On more than one occasion, the Bible connects idolatry and adultery (e.g., Hos 4:12-14; Isa 57:1-3; Ezek 6:9; Jer 2:23-24; etc.). Interesting connection. And you can see why. In the Old Testament Israel was referred to as God's wife and in the New Testament the Church is the Bride of Christ. So when the "wife" or the "bride" is unfaithful to the "husband", it is called "adultery". We get that.
But what does adultery say about God? Adultery says the same thing about God that it says abour marriage. In adultery the adulterer says, "This mate you gave me is inadequate. I need something more. You shortchanged me." It demeans the character of God and diminishes His ability to give us what is best for us ... which is the definition of love.
Now, if we say, "Oh, no, it just says that we made a bad choice early on," there is another message here. That message is that God is not Sovereign. That message is that God does not work all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11), that God does not work all things for good to those who love God (Rom 8:28).
Either way, we end up with a god of diminished capacity.
Paul says, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Rom 2:24) He is speaking there about God's people who ignore God's instructions, those who affirm the law while dishonoring God by breaking the law. Our sin is not merely a poor reflection on us. It is a poor reflection on the character of the God we say we love. It is much, much bigger than a moral faux pas. It tarnishes His glory. This is why I daily plead the blood of Jesus.
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