Ob and In:
1. The adulterous woman (as a symbol for the idol worshipping Israel) v.5
Her adultery and shameful act v.5 was presented when she sought out the lovers and recognized them as those who give her the resources.
v.5b For she said, “I will seek out my lovers; (NET) This statement alludes to the practice of sexual rites in the Canaanite fertility cult which attempted to secure agricultural fertility from the Canaanite gods (note the following reference to wool, flax, olive oil, and wine).
they are the ones who give me my bread and my water,
my wool, my flax, my olive oil, and my wine.’
2. What God would do soon and the prediction of the returning of the women v.6-7
God made her seeking v.5 failed v.7 then she would be back to her husband when that would be a better option than her abandon state (like the prodigal son in Luke 15).
v.6b I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
7 Then she will pursue her lovers, but she will not catch them;
she will seek them, but she will not find them.
Reflection: God discipline is shown when He set up wall against us when we want to seek out our "lovers." When we face the wall, I will sit down and see if this is a way God tried to stop me from chasing after idols.
What the woman realize was not the she should have love her husband, but only that she needed her husband (same for the podigal son). Somehow, God did not mind for that and I am moved.
3. More details about Israel's idol worship (and the adulterous women)
a. She failed to acknowledge her Giver v.8. She forgot me v.13.
8 “Yet until now she has refused to acknowledge that I was the one
who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil;
and that it was I who lavished on her the silver and gold—
that they used in worshiping Baal!
Note the change in pronoun from "her" to "they." What Israel did was the focus here.
(NET) The third person plural here is an obvious reference to the Israelites who had been unfaithful to the LORD in spite of all that he had done for them. To maintain the imagery of Israel as the prostitute, a third person feminine singular would be called for...
b. Since they failed to acknowledge God as their Giver, God took back what He had given them v.9, 11-12.
c. Then the effect would be nakedness in front of her lovers v.10
(NET) This announcement of judgment is extremely ironic and forcefully communicates poetic justice: The punishment will fit the crime. The Israelites were literally uncovering their nakedness in temple prostitution in the Baal fertility cult rituals. Yahweh will, in effect, give them what they wanted (nakedness) but not in the way they wanted it: Yahweh will withhold the agricultural fertility they sought from Baal which would lead to nakedness caused by impoverishment.
Reflection: Punishment will be one fitted for the crime. If I failed to recognize God as Giver, my possessions will be gone. If I commit adultery then I will be naked and be exposed.
On one hand, God predicted that she would return, but on the other hand punishment was needed for her crime and for her to realize her lacking. Jesus has already paid for my sins, but do we individually realize our lack? Our need for God?
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