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Oholah and Oholibah
Oholah and Oholibah Ezekiel 23
While a somewhat basic understanding of the meaning of those names is given as "my tent" and "my tent is in her", the real meaning has been lost to modern man. I presume that the people of Ezekiel's day did get the symbolism. God had become their God and had dwelt among them. Yet they had rejected Him and turned to idols.
Again, as in chapter 16, God has Ezekiel describe the character of Israel and Judah as a wanton immoral unfaithful wife. Again Ezekiel uses the words whore, whoredom, lust, etc. While the marriage bed is to be honorable to all, fornicators and adulterers God will condemn (Heb. 13:5). Judah stood condemned. Judah had watched as God brought the destruction of Israel (the northern 10 tribes). Instead of learning the lesson of God's judgment upon unfaithfulness, they only increased their rebellion.
In our day of movies, tv, and suggestive books such marriage / sexual unfaithfulness doesn't look all that bad. That is just a sad commentary on our day. In Ezekiel's day this was more than shocking. To godly people of all ages it IS despicable and disgusting.
God is said to say: "When she carried on her whoring so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned in disgust from her sister" (Ezek. 23:18). We would notice yet again that such immorality and fornication are used to picture the unfaithfulness of God's people to God and His covenant. While there is little doubt that there was such actual sinful acts being done (which in themselves were a breach of the covenant), the real picture is simple people turning away from God and serving other 'gods' including the god of 'SELF'.
"Be thou faithful unto death" (Rev. 2:10). Such faithfulness if based upon our loving God with our whole heart, soul, and mind. When we turn our affections to other things we, we are imitating the unfaithfulness of Judah in Ezekiel's day.
