Ezekiel 16:19

“My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.”

Context:The book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book in the Old Testament. It contains the prophecies of Ezekiel, a prophet called by God to minister to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. In this particular passage, Ezekiel uses a metaphor to describe the unfaithfulness and idolatry of Jerusalem, comparing it to an unfaithful woman.

Symbolic language:In this verse, Ezekiel uses the imagery of food to illustrate how Jerusalem, representing the people of Israel, has taken the blessings and provisions given by God and offered them to foreign idols. The "fine flour, oil, and honey" symbolize the abundant blessings, provisions, and richness that God had graciously bestowed upon Israel.

Unfaithfulness and idolatry:The metaphorical language used by Ezekiel portrays Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness and idolatry towards God. Instead of recognizing that all good things came from the Lord, they turned to pagan gods and idols, offering the provisions and blessings God had given them to these false deities.

Sweet savour:The phrase "for a sweet savour" refers to the pleasant aroma that the offerings had before the idols. It signifies that the Israelites took pleasure in presenting their blessings and provisions before these false gods, rather than recognizing God as their true source of sustenance and worshiping Him alone.

God’s disappointment:Through Ezekiel, God expresses His disappointment with Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness. The imagery used emphasizes the magnitude of their unfaithfulness and the gravity of their sin. God had lavished them with blessings, but they squandered them on idols and false gods, forsaking their covenant relationship with Him.