Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds. (Psalm 106:39)

If we are to truly appreciate the significance of the psalmist’s statement, “they played the harlot by their own deeds,” we need to recall what occurred at Mount Sinai. In effect, God came down to the people of Israel to propose marriage to them saying, “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people” (Exodus 19:5). The covenant He presented to them was, essentially, a ketubah or “marriage contract” to which they replied, ““All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7).

Couple this with the fact that the Almighty said, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image; … you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:4-5). Basically, He was telling them that, as their husband, He would not tolerate infidelity and harlotry. To embrace foreign gods was equivalent to a married woman consorting with other lovers — even having more than one husband — which would provoke Him to intense anger. Unfortunately, they didn’t listen and, in time, were kicked out of the house, so to speak — i.e. they were exiled.

I realize that most of us would never consider bowing to some idol made of wood or stone. Still, it would do us well to consider whether anything has captured our heart other than God? It doesn’t have to be the blatant and obvious things the world embraces; it can be something that we might consider small. Big or small, anything that has a piece of our heart other than our Master has the potential to become an idol which is, in effect, another lover — something that will provoke Him to jealousy. Remember, the Messiah is coming for a “chaste virgin” (2 Corinthians 11:2), a bride “not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). Let us make certain that we are not allowing anything to come between us and our Bridegroom and that we don’t give Him anything to be jealous about.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill