Abominations in the Temple

Ezekiel 8:1–6
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A series of visions by Ezekiel begin in chapters 8-11, relating particularly to the evils in Jerusalem among those not yet in exile. Chapter 8 concerns itself with the abominable kinds of idolatry currently practiced in Jerusalem. In fact, it was happening in the very Temple built for the worship of the God of heaven. God views idolatry as the most abominable kind of sin that man can engage in. Other sins are against lower forms of creation and against fellow man. But idolatry is against the Lord God Himself. When man practices idolatry he either refuses to recognize Him at all, or at best places Him alongside the many lesser gods. When man fails to give due recognition and worship to God, he then becomes a law to himself.

After showing Ezekiel the various forms of idolatrous worship then being perpetrated in the Temple in Jerusalem, God says that He will deal in fury, and will not listen to their cry. This vision occurred 14 months after Ezekiel’s call. The image of jealousy may perhaps have been a replacement of the image of the Canaanite goddess Asherah, originally set up by King Manasseh (II Kings 21:7) and subsequently destroyed by Josiah (II Kings 23:6), who  burned the Asherah pole. This was the goddess of fertility whose character encouraged sexual immorality and self gratification.

In scene after scene God revealed to Ezekiel the extent to which the people had embraced idolatry and wickedness. God’s Spirit works with us in a similar way, revealing the sin that lurks in our lives.

Application

Bill Gothard defines idolatry as trusting people, possessions or positions to do for me what only God can do. As someone has said, today’s idols are more in the self than on the shelf. I do not want anything to ever become more important in my life than my wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.