In the Old Testament, Babylon was considered the “Prostitute” when it was actually a powerful nation that conquered the Israelites. Although in captivity, the Chosen People were living in relative ease and comfort in what was called “the golden city”. At that time, the conquering Babylon was the center of commerce and trade and it was so grand and opulent, and yet there was an unconquenchable loneliness in the hearts of the people–for it was a city built to glorify greed and selfishness and not God. It was a time of economic boom where high zigurrats wer built as a testament to man’s pride and achievement and vanity but hides the gnawing emptiness of the spirits within. Thus David composed the hymn in the psalm, “I will look up to the mountains, from whence cometh my help? (PSALMS 121:1) FOR these were the mountains that divided Babylon and Jerusalem; the difference between captivity and freedom. The difference may seem subtle but it is actually enormous—where commercialization says you can buy everything you need except your happiness–where there are glitters everywhere but there is darkness within—Where you can check out anytime you like in Hotel California but can never leave—where you can own the earth and still all you own is earth until you can paint with all the colors of the wind. This must be why Babylon was called the prostitute—you can have all the sex you want in Babylon but love is out of the question.
