The Unfaithful Spouse

SERIES: “EXCERPTS FROM EZEKIEL”

TEXT: EZEKIEL 16

TITLE: “THE UNFAITHFUL SPOUSE”

INTRODUCTION: A. Adultery has become a very commonplace thing
1. Movie stars, entertainers, sports stars, political leaders, and even religious leaders
have had full-blown and very public adulterous affairs.

2. Maybe some of you have experienced the pain, disgust and shame of a spouse who
has been unfaithful to you

3. Probably some of you have supported and encouraged family members and friends
as they went through the agony and embarrassment of an unfaithful spouse

4. Perhaps someone here today has been guilty of this very behavior

B. Maybe you’ve seen the movie version of the musical Camelot
1. It’s the story of King Arthur, the love of his life – his wife Guinevere, and the man
who would become Arthur’s best friend – Sir Lancelot.

2. There’s a scene that occurs after Arthur has uncovered the illicit relationship
between his wife, whom he calls Jenny and Lancelot

3. Listen closely to the words Arthur uses to express his hurt and rage:

Proposition: If I could choose from every woman who breathes on this earth, a
face I would most love. The smile, the touch, the heart, the voice, the laugh, the
very soul itself. Every detail and feature to the last strand of hair, they would all be
Jenny’s.

Proposition: If I could choose from every man who breathes on this earth a man
for my brother, a man for my son, and a man for my friend, it would all be Lance.

I love them. I love them and they answer me with pain and torment. Be it sin, or
not sin. They have betrayed me in their hearts and that’s far sin enough. I can see
it in their eyes. I can feel it when they speak. They must pay for it and be punished.
I shall not be wounded and not return it in kind. I am through with feeble hoping. I
demand a man’s vengeance.

C. Our section of the book of Ezekiel today details the spiritual adultery – the utter
unfaithfulness – of the Jewish people
--It expresses the infidelity they practiced in their lives even in light of God’s mercy,
provision, and love for them
1. In the next