Abominations at the Sanctuary – Part 2

Abominations at the Sanctuary – Part 2

Ezekiel 8:7 – He brought me to the entrance of the court, and as I watched, I noticed a hole in the wall. 8 – He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and discovered a doorway. 9 – He said to me, “Go in and see the evil abominations they are practicing here.”

verse 10 – So I went in and looked. I noticed every figure of creeping thing and beast – detestable images – and every idol of the house of Israel, engraved on the wall all around. 11 – Seventy men from the elders of the house of Israel (with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them) were standing in front of them, each with a censer in his hand, and fragrant vapors from a cloud of incense were swirling upward.

verse 12 – He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images? For they think, ‘The LORD does not see us! The LORD has abandoned the land!” 13 – He said to me, “You will see them practicing even greater abominations!”

Yesterday we saw a statue at the gate but here further in at the entrance to the court, there seems nothing out of the ordinary until Ezekiel discovered a doorway after being instructed to dig at a hole in the wall.  What he saw when he went in were elders of the house of Israel burning incense to all sorts of figures of creation from insect to beast.  They were doing this under cover of darkness.  Out of sight from the rest of the camp, the corrupt leaders were sending prayers to false gods made out of things God had created – thinking God does not see nor does He care.  What was revealed to Ezekiel, however, is that God sees.  God cares.  And He will share through Ezekiel, and other faithful servants, the extent of what He knows so that opportunity is given for sinners to turn from the darkness and come into the light.

John 3:19 says – Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 – For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 – But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.

Sometimes when we fall into sin we seek to hide it or live in denial that it even exists – but let’s heed the warning of God through Ezekiel.  God is not dead nor has He abandoned us.  He sees every hidden act and thought done out of sight of others.  Let’s come into the light and find the love and mercy of the one true God who cares for you and for me.

When the righteous are victorious, there is great glory, but when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into disaster. – Proverbs 28:12-14.