Ezekiel 16:15
But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
The beauty, prosperity, kingdom standing, and renown among the heathen nations were not Israel's own, but had been made hers by the comeliness God Himself had put upon her, making her exceeding beautiful.
To trust in that beauty and to play the harlot because of renown is to permit confidence and affection to be turned away from God and to allow love of worldly things to occupy the soul, giving devotion and love to others.
The Lord had joined His people to Himself by solemn covenant to be His and His alone, so such unfaithfulness of the church to Christ is violation of the marriage vow.
Israel's departure from the Lord is therefore presented under the figure of adultery, as a wife's betrayal of her husband, despising His wonderful love when worldly love replaces loyalty to Him.
The harlotry consists specifically in the desire to imitate the practices of the ungodly and to court the friendship, favor, and approval of the world.
It is the forming of an unlawful alliance with the world, even by sacrificing truth and the approval of God in order to gain that friendship.
That iniquitous connection follows Rome's example of unlawful connection with the kings of the earth.
The same pattern exposes the Protestant churches, which rose pure, stood for God and truth, and enjoyed His blessing with beneficent gospel results.
They fell by the same desire that cursed and ruined Israel, imitating the ungodly and seeking the world's favor, and so became corrupt daughters of Babylon.