The Old Testament And Modernism

The Prophet Ezechiel

In a previous post, I talked about how reading scripture was an antidote to modernism. In that post, I focused on the New Testament but the Old Testament is full of gems as well. The book of Ezechiel is a great example. When one reads the first 15 chapters of Ezechiel, the idea that God is angry becomes very apparent. In Chapter 16 we read:

And I passed by thee, and saw thee: and behold thy time was the time of lovers: and I spread my garment over thee, and covered thy ignominy. And I swore to thee, and I entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God: and thou becamest mine.

-Ezechiel 16:8

The topic of the covenant is brought up as the Israelites were blessed with this covenant with God. The next three verses show the benefits of the covenant received by Israel.

And I washed thee with water, and cleansed away thy blood from thee: and I anointed thee with oil. And I clothed thee with embroidery, and shod thee with violet coloured shoes: and I girded thee about with fine linen, and clothed thee with fine garments. I decked thee also with ornaments, and put bracelets on thy hands, and a chain about thy neck.

-Ezechiel 16:9-11

The commentary on the phrase “I decked thee also with ornaments” provided by Bishop Challoner states: “That is, with spiritual benefits, giving you a law with sacrifices, sacraments, and other holy rites.”

Regardless of these tremendous benefits, Israel turned its back on God.

But trusting in thy beauty, thou playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and thou hast prostituted thyself to every passenger, to be his.

-Ezechiel 16:15

When one continues to read the chapter, we see a litany of sins committed by the Children of Israel. In several places it mentions that they have sinned worse than other surrounding nations such as Sodom and Samaria. God then speaks of the punishment that will come upon them for their disobedience to his covenant.

Now why would God punish the Israelites? God would punish Israel because a covenant is a two way street. It has tremendous spiritual benefits but it also requires submission to His will and obedience of His law. These same conditions apply to the new covenant as well. The Church receives tremendous spiritual benefits but it has to follow the Law of God.

When a bishops writes a document about modern Judaism undermining the statements of the Council of Florence, that is going against the covenant of God. When bishops engage in false ecumenism and pray in mosques, that is going against the covenant of God. When a bishop spends time combating myths like global warming when real threats exist such as internet pornography, that is going against the covenant of God. All of this must stop.

Ezechiel 16 is one of the most fascinating chapters in scripture. The entire book is wonderful but if you only have a bit of time, chapter 16 should suffice. As Catholic’s we have priests, bishops, the mass, confession, baptism, and many other spiritual benefits but if we don’t do our part, God will not hesitate to punish us.