If ever there was any doubt of the spiritual marriage relationship between God and His people, Ezekiel’s words in Chapter 23 put that doubt to rest! In this allegory the two nations, Israel and Judah (Oholah and Oholibah) have taken all aspects of a marriage relationship and abused it in every conceivable way including adultery and prostitution.

These words to our tender ears may appear offensive but it illustrates the extent of the damage to this spiritual marriage relationship. It illustrates how offensive these behaviors are to God. This is God speaking to make His point. He turned away from them in disgust. 

In reading these passages again, some more thoughts come to mind.  The description of "warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, young men", etc. seem descriptive of sexual power and prowess, something that the people then and now revere. It seems to be a lusting after what they perceive as human sexual perfection.  Seems they were lusting after the power and might and wealth of the Babylonians and of the Assyrian Empire.  

Ezekiel 23:35 "Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution."

What powerful words.  The people had thrust God behind them.  How about us as believers today? How about the church (the bride of Christ) today?  Have we thrust God behind us?  Have we devalued the Word of the Lord?  Do we depend on opinions of others?  It seems that the actions of the apostate church fall into these two categories of lewdness and prostitution.

1. lewdness - sexual perversion, adultery, homosexuality, abortions

2. prostitution - selling out to the ways of the world, compromising the truth, and practicing pagan traditions - all for the sake of feeling good

Instead of giving themselves wholly to the Lord, they were giving themselves to false gods and benefiting materially.  They participated in every manner of sexual perversion led by worship of false gods.

God warns Judah (Oholibah) saying, "You will drink your sister's cup, a cup large and deep; it will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much."

God's cup of wrath can be large or small and filled to capacity or only partially filled depending on the sins of the people.

God does indeed feel the shame and disgrace from His people, then and now.  Concerning the people of Israel, the spiritual marriage relationship with God was damaged.  Today, the spiritual marriage relationship has been damaged.  But it can be repaired.  God has done His part.  It's up to us, those of us who are called by His Name, to do our part.