“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?” Ezekiel 14:3
Even though some of the children of Israel were already exiled by this time, the change in their hearts toward God did not occur immediately. Here, the elders of Israel came to Ezekiel, presumedly to hear from God, but their hearts were still not surrendered to God.
Can you imagine the pain these people were experiencing? They had lived in high regard in Jerusalem. They’d lived how they wanted to, living by pride and selfishness, seeking to worship gods that allowed them to indulge their wicked fleshly desires. They ruled and had power over others and had been told by false prophets that they would have peace.
In the past, Israel knew God’s glory. They saw it in the Tabernacle when God appeared in a cloud covering the tent (Exodus 40:34-35). God was with them. Again, at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, God (II Chronicles 5:14) God came in the cloud and filled the temple. But so wicked had the leaders become and the abominations they committed so great, that God could not abide in the temple. In Ezekiel 11:23, we are told that the glory of the LORD went up from the city of Jerusalem.
With God removing His glory from Jerusalem, the way was clear for the Babylonians to come and destroy the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and ultimately, all of Judah. Why? Because the leaders and the false prophets not only caused the people to worship other idols, but spoke lies to them, causing them to believe in a false peace rather than for their need to repent and turn back to God.
And now, they come to Ezekiel and want to hear what God has to say.
But do they?
God sees their hearts and the idols they had ‘set up in their hearts’. What is an idol? Anything that a person puts as prominent in their life over God. Anything that causes a person to not trust and obey God.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,…” Exodus 20:3-5
An in-depth study of this Exodus passage would reveal so very much about God’s view of our relationship with Him. For now, consider this a summary statement of God’s expectation of our loyalty to Him. At another time we may continue through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and learn how these are acted out in day to day living, how judgment comes when these laws are not followed, and how to keep ourselves focused on God.
The people Ezekiel was talking to at this time were not ready to hear that they needed to sorrow over their wickedness, beg for forgiveness, and turn to God with all their heart.
They knew the books of the law and all those books contained. But they had chosen not to obey.
In the temple were many chambers where the leaders set up images and committed acts contrary to God’s Word. God had told them not to worship these gods; He told them not to commit fornication and not to oppress the poor (both physically and spiritually). But their pride, greed, and lust caused them to choose to ignore the warnings of the true prophets and listen to those that made them feel good about themselves and tell them that all would be well.
Even after the horrors of being taken into captivity, the elders who came before Ezekiel and were not yet ready to turn from all the things contrary to God that they enjoyed back in Jerusalem. Pride and lust still held them captive.
The road back to God would be filled with many potholes of fears and tribulations and failures. It always is. The Israelites would spend 70 years in captivity amongst a people who hated them and often sought to annihilate them. And yet, God did not utterly forsake them. He still called out to them. He still left them witnesses of His love and desire for them to turn to Him.
Oh, what a wonderful God we have. A gracious and merciful God who, though holy and righteous, sees fit to not only draw us to Him, but help us change our wayward ways.
The road out of sin is not easy. It is filled with many potholes and high hills and floods and many dangers. People will not believe we can change. People’s harsh and judgmental statements may cause us to question our salvation. We’ll slip and fall at times, and no one will help us up but God. We’ll feel shame and guilt and be overwhelmed by temptation.
Nonetheless, our God is working a great work in our lives to conform us to the image of His Son.
Daily, we need to try ourselves, to see that our hearts are right.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves….” II Corinthians 13:5
Are we ready to accept responsibility for our sinful actions, lay them at the cross daily, and daily follow Christ?
God wants our hearts—our love and thoughts and passions and will. Not because He is an ogre, but because He knows that what is best for us is to be fully in love with Him.
The world doesn’t see it that way. It sees it as bondage and oppressive and even abusive. But it doesn’t know how you can soar with the eagles when the loving breath of God is under your wings.
Have you been pretending to seek God, but not truly wanting to give up what is keeping you from Him?
What is in your heart? Have you examined it lately to see what you might be holding above God, what you are unwilling to yield to Him? Is there anything in your life you are trying to overcome, but the road seems too hard? Trust God.
Have you ever experienced the overwhelming joy of God’s presence and His peace that passes all understanding? Have you ever experienced victory over something that holds you captive and away from God?
For Further study, read Ezekiel 14-20.
“Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 14:22-23
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, …hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 18:4-9
“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:32
“And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 20:43-44
