Ezekiel 16:6-14: a reflection

6“‘“When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ Yes, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ 7I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent beauty. Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew; yet you were naked and bare. 8“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my garment over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord GOD, “and you became mine. 9“‘“Then I washed you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. 10I clothed you also with embroidered work and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck. 12I put a ring on your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate. 14Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord GOD.

In a tender image of his people's origin, God pictures them as an abandoned infant, left exposed and helpless, with no one to care for it. When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, God says, I said to you, Though you are in your blood, live! He did not pass by the helpless, dying child; he spoke life to it, took it up, cared for it, and as it grew, he lavished his love upon it, washing it, clothing it, adorning it with fine things, making it beautiful. God's compassion reached to the helpless and abandoned, gave life where there was none, and lavished love on one who had nothing and deserved nothing.

Notice God's compassion for the helpless and abandoned. The child in the image had nothing, could do nothing, was left to die; there was no merit in it, no claim on anyone's care, only helplessness. But God passed by and said, Live; he gave life to the dying, took up the abandoned, and lavished his love, adorning the helpless child with every good thing. His compassion was not drawn by the child's worth or beauty, for it had none; it was freely given to the helpless and abandoned, giving life and lavishing love on one who had nothing to commend it. God's grace reached to the helpless, said Live, and adorned the undeserving with beauty. The love was all his gift, given to one who could not earn it.

That is worth resting in, for God's compassion gives life to the helpless and lavishes his love on us who could not earn it. We can imagine that God's love must be earned, that we must have something to commend us; but God passed by the helpless, dying child, said Live, and lavished his love, adorning one who had nothing. God's grace reaches to the helpless and undeserving, gives life, and lavishes love freely. When you feel you have nothing to commend you to God, remember that his compassion gave life to the helpless and lavished love on the undeserving. Rest in the wonder that God's compassion gave you life when you were helpless and lavishes his love on you who could not earn it, as he said to the abandoned child, Though you are in your blood, live, and adorned it with beauty; for God's grace reaches freely to the helpless and undeserving, giving life and lavishing love on those who have nothing to commend them but their need.

Lord, in a tender image of your people's origin, you picture them as an abandoned infant, left exposed and helpless, with no one to care for it. When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, you say, I said to you, though you are in your blood, live! You did not pass by the helpless, dying child; you spoke life to it, took it up, cared for it, and as it grew, you lavished your love upon it, washing it, clothing it, adorning it, making it beautiful. Your compassion reached to the helpless and abandoned, gave life where there was none, and lavished love on one who had nothing and deserved nothing. Show me your compassion for the helpless and abandoned. The child in the image had nothing, could do nothing, was left to die; there was no merit in it, only helplessness. But you passed by and said, Live; you gave life to the dying, took up the abandoned, and lavished your love. Your compassion was not drawn by the child's worth or beauty, for it had none; it was freely given to the helpless and abandoned. Your grace reached to the helpless, said Live, and adorned the undeserving with beauty. Let me rest in that, for your compassion gives life to the helpless and lavishes your love on me who could not earn it. I can imagine that your love must be earned, that I must have something to commend me; but you passed by the helpless, dying child, said Live, and lavished your love. When I feel I have nothing to commend me to you, help me remember that your compassion gave life to the helpless and lavished love on the undeserving, Lord. Help me rest in the wonder that your compassion gave me life when I was helpless and lavishes your love on me who could not earn it, as you said to the abandoned child, though you are in your blood, live.