The chapter begins with Ezekiel describing how the hand of the Lord came upon him. This is a common phrase in the book of Ezekiel and refers to a prophetic experience in which Ezekiel is given a vision or message from God.The Lord led Ezekiel to the entrance of the temple courtyard, where he saw a figure that looked like a man, but had the appearance of fire. This figure is likely an angel or a manifestation of God’s presence. The figure stretched out a hand and took Ezekiel by the hair, lifting him up and carrying him in a vision to Jerusalem. This experience is similar to the way that the prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind in 2 Kings 2:11. Ezekiel was placed at the entrance to the north gate of the temple, where he saw a vision of the idolatrous practices of the people of Israel. This vision is a continuation of the vision that Ezekiel received in Chapter 7, in which he saw the judgment that was coming upon the people of Israel.
Ezekiel saw a statue that represented jealousy, which may have been a representation of a foreign deity. The statue was located in the inner court of the temple, near the entrance to the sanctuary. He also saw twenty-five men standing in front of the statue, with their backs to the sanctuary and their faces toward the east, where the sun rises. They were bowing down and worshiping the sun, which was a common practice among the pagan nations of the time. The Lord spoke to Ezekiel and told him that he was going to show him even greater abominations that the people of Israel were committing. This indicates that what Ezekiel had already seen was only the beginning of the wickedness that the Lord was going to reveal to him. The Lord led Ezekiel to a hidden chamber in the temple, where he saw the elders of Israel engaged in secret worship of idols. The chamber was located in the inner court of the temple, near the entrance to the sanctuary.
The Lord showed Ezekiel a hole in the wall of the chamber, and he was able to look inside and see the elders of Israel worshiping idols. They had set up images of all kinds of creatures, including the detestable things that the Lord had forbidden them to worship. The elders of Israel were burning incense in front of the idols, and Ezekiel could hear them saying, “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.” This was a sign of their arrogance and their belief that they could get away with their idolatry. The Lord spoke to Ezekiel and told him that he was going to judge the people of Israel for their idolatry. He said that he would not spare them and that he would abandon the temple and leave them to suffer the consequences of their sin. This vision is a powerful warning against the dangers of idolatry and the importance of maintaining a pure heart and faithful worship of God. It also underscores the severity of God’s judgment against those who turn away from him and follow after false gods.The fact that the elders of Israel were engaged in secret worship of idols in the temple, which was supposed to be a holy place reserved for the worship of the one true God, shows the depth of their sin and their rebellion against the Lord.
This vision also highlights the importance of being vigilant against idolatry in our own lives and communities. We must be careful not to allow anything to take the place of God in our hearts and minds, and we must always be willing to repent and turn back to God if we find ourselves straying from his path. The message of Ezekiel’s vision is that the Lord is always watching and knows the secret sins of our hearts, and that he will judge those who turn away from him. Therefore, it is crucial for us to remain faithful to God and to resist the temptation to worship idols or false gods. The vision that Ezekiel receives in this chapter is a continuation of the message that he received in Chapter 7, which was a prophecy of judgment against the people of Israel for their sin and rebellion against God. The vision in Chapter 8 is a more detailed account of the specific sins that the people were committing, particularly their idolatry and the worship of false gods. The fact that the idolatrous practices were taking place in the temple, which was the holiest place in Israel and the center of their worship of God, shows the depth of their corruption and rebellion. It also highlights the fact that even the most religious and seemingly devout people can fall into sin and idolatry if they are not careful and vigilant.
The vision of the elders of Israel engaging in secret worship of idols is a powerful reminder that God sees everything, even the things that we try to hide from others. It also underscores the importance of integrity and honesty in our relationship with God and with others. We cannot hide our sin or our rebellion from God, and we must be willing to confess our sins and repent of them if we want to be restored to a right relationship with him. The vision of the elders saying, “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land” is a clear indication of their lack of faith and their belief that God had abandoned them. This is a common theme throughout the book of Ezekiel, as the people of Israel struggle to understand why God has allowed them to be taken into captivity and punished for their sin. It is a reminder that even in the midst of our darkest moments and struggles, God is always with us and will never forsake us. The image of the statue of jealousy in the inner court of the temple is a clear reference to the sin of idolatry, which was a common practice among the pagan nations surrounding Israel. It is a powerful reminder that the worship of false gods and idols is a direct violation of God’s commandments and will inevitably lead to judgment and punishment. The fact that the elders of Israel were engaging in secret worship of idols in the temple also highlights the dangers of spiritual hypocrisy and the need for authenticity and transparency in our relationship with God. We cannot pretend to be devout or righteous on the outside while harboring sin and rebellion in our hearts.
The vision in Ezekiel Chapter 8 is a sobering reminder that sin and rebellion have serious consequences, both in this life and in the afterlife. It is a call to repentance and faithfulness, and a warning against the dangers of idolatry and false worship. Ultimately, it is a message of hope, as it reminds us that even in the midst of our sin and rebellion, God is always ready and willing to forgive us if we turn to him with sincere hearts and seek his mercy and grace.
In verses 5-6, the vision of Ezekiel is taken to the entrance of the north gate of the temple, where he sees a group of men worshipping the sun towards the east. This is another form of idolatry and a violation of God’s commandments. The fact that the men were worshipping the sun in the temple highlights the degree to which idolatry had infiltrated the religious practices of Israel. It shows that even the holiest places of worship were not immune to the corruption and sin of the people. The worship of the sun was a common practice in many ancient cultures, including the Babylonians and Egyptians. It was often associated with the worship of other gods and goddesses, and was considered a form of astral religion. The image of the seventy elders of Israel standing before the sun god in verse 11 is a clear indication of the extent of the rebellion and apostasy of the people. It is a reminder that even the most devout and religious people can fall into sin and idolatry if they are not careful and vigilant. • The phrase “the Lord God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which He was” in verse 6 may refer to the departure of God’s presence from the temple due to the sins of the people. This is a common theme throughout the book of Ezekiel, as the prophet emphasizes the importance of holiness and righteousness in the worship of God.
The vision of the men worshipping the sun towards the east may also be a symbol of the people turning their backs on God and rejecting his authority. The east was often associated with the direction of judgment and punishment in ancient Near Eastern cultures, and the fact that the men were facing that direction while worshipping the sun may indicate a sense of defiance and rebellion against God’s authority. The image of the idol of jealousy in verse 10 is another reminder of the dangers of idolatry and false worship. The idol represents a violation of God’s commandments and a rejection of his authority, and is a clear sign of the people’s rebellion and apostasy.
In verses 11-12, the vision of Ezekiel is shown the seventy elders of Israel worshipping various idols inside the temple. The elders were supposed to be leaders and examples to the people, but instead they were participating in idolatry. The mention of the
“image of jealousy” in verse 12 may refer to a specific idol that was particularly offensive to God. This may have been an image of a foreign god or goddess that was brought into the temple and worshipped alongside or instead of Yahweh. The fact that the elders were worshipping idols in the inner court of the temple, the holiest part of the sanctuary, is a clear indication of the extent of their rebellion and apostasy.
In verse 13, Ezekiel sees women mourning for the god Tammuz, a fertility deity worshipped in the ancient Near East. This is another form of idolatry and a violation of God’s commands. The fact that the women were weeping for Tammuz may indicate a sense of despair or hopelessness, as the god was associated with the cycles of life and death. It may also suggest a sense of desperation or dependence on the gods for fertility and prosperity.
In verse 14, Ezekiel sees men worshipping the sun towards the east. This is the same idolatrous practice that he saw earlier in the vision, and reinforces the idea that the people had completely abandoned the worship of Yahweh and had embraced false gods and idols. In verses 15-16, Ezekiel sees a group of men worshiping idols in a secret room in the temple. This suggests that the practice of idolatry was not limited to public worship, but was also
carried out in private and hidden from view. The fact that the men were worshiping in a hidden room may also indicate a sense of shame or guilt, as they knew that what they were doing was wrong and contrary to God’s commands.
In verses 17-18, Ezekiel is told to witness the abominations that the people are committing, and to understand the full extent of their rebellion and apostasy. The fact that God shows Ezekiel these things is a clear indication that he is holding the people accountable for their actions and will not tolerate their disobedience.
Overall, the vision of Ezekiel in Chapter 8 is a powerful warning against the dangers of idolatry and false worship. It shows the consequences that come with turning away from God’s commands, and the importance of faithfulness and obedience in our relationship with God. It is a call to repentance and a reminder of the dangers of rebellion and apostasy.
Cross references:
● Exodus 20:3-5 – This passage contains the first and second commandments given to Moses by God, which prohibit the worship of other gods and the making of idols. These commandments are directly violated by the people in Ezekiel Chapter 8.
● Psalm 106:36-39 – This psalm describes the sins of the Israelites, including their worship of idols and false gods. The language used in this passage is similar to that of Ezekiel Chapter 8, and underscores the severity of the people’s disobedience.
● Jeremiah 7:9-10 – In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah rebukes the people of Judah for their idolatry and warns them of the consequences that will come as a result of their disobedience. This warning is similar to the message that Ezekiel delivers in Chapter 8.
● 1 Kings 11:4-8 – This passage describes how King Solomon, despite his great wisdom and devotion to God, turned away from Yahweh and began to worship other gods. This is similar to the situation in Ezekiel Chapter 8, where even the elders of Israel, who were supposed to be leaders and examples to the people, were involved in idolatry.
● Revelation 2:20-23 – In this passage from the New Testament, Jesus addresses the church in Thyatira and rebukes them for tolerating a woman who teaches and leads others astray into sexual immorality and idolatry. The message here is similar to the message of Ezekiel Chapter 8, which emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and obedience in our relationship with God.