diff --git a/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_8:1-13.md b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_8:1-13.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe418c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_8:1-13.md @@ -0,0 +1,45 @@ ++++ +title = "Ezekiel 8:1-13" +date = "2023-03-19" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel8.1-13) + +About thirteen months after the last prophecy, Ezekiel is again visited by the +Lord. This one happens while he has visitors, the elders of Judah. Ezekiel +again sees the shining glory of the Lord, who takes him by the hair and lifts +him up into the sky to take him to Jerusalem. This is very likely not a +physical transportation, as he says the Spirit is the One who lifted him up. + +At Jerusalem, Ezekiel is set down in the temple, at the entrance to the inner +court. He is shown an "image of jealousy" (_vv. 3,5_), that is, an idol that +provokes the Lord's jealousy. We aren't told exactly what it is, but it seems +likely to be an Asherah like King Manessah set up. Asherah poles were symbols +for a Caananite fertility goddess. The Lord says to Ezekiel that the house of +Israel is doing abominations to drive Him out of His sanctuary. What I can't +determine is whether the people intend for this, or if it is only what the Lord +decided the consequences of their idolatry would be. But as bad as this is, +there are worse things for Ezekiel to see. + +At the entrance to the court, there was a hole in the wall, and Ezekiel is +commanded to dig into it. He finds an entrance into a room, and is told so see +what is inside. There is a room filled with reliefs depicting all of the +various idols that Israel worshipped at that time. Additionally he sees 70 +elders of Israel burning incense in there, including Jaazaniah the son of +Shaphan leading them. This man is tragically significant because his father +Shaphan helped King Josiah reform the worship of Judah to the true God. Shaphan +was the one to read the Book of the Law to the king that Hilkiah the priest +found. + +Apparently these men think their hidden room is unseen by God, or maybe that He +is no longer paying attention to Israel. They don't realize that the very acts +they are committing are what bring the Lord's wrath upon the land, the very +disasters they fear are coming and are trying to prevent with their prayers to +idols. They had forgotten the Lord's promises and commandments, and have +twisted things around so much that they blame God for their own problems. As +bad as this is, Ezekiel will see still worse things. + +* * * + +Help us see our sin for what it is, and give us the remedy that will heal us +from it.