October 29th | Ezekiel 8

What is an idol? Idols are seen today in various religions, and Hinduism is a big proponent of idol worship. They are small or, at times, very large statues that appear to be gods. People will make idols, sell them, then worshippers will adorn their house or place of business with these “little gods.” People will bow down to these idols and worship them, offering sacrifices to them in hopes that the gods will hear their cries and grant their petition. 

We don’t experience idol worship in the same way in our context. However, we still place things in our lives that demand our worship and attention. Our bank accounts, celebrities, and our possessions become idols in our lives. They take center stage, and we regularly bow before them, giving them our attention and affection.

Ezekiel is distraught because idol worship is simply inconsistent with following God. You cannot worship God and idols. Ezekiel is physically in Babylon, but the Lord helps him see the idol worship and idolatry that have happened in the temple of God in Jerusalem. First, the Lord shows Ezekiel an offensive statue of another God outside the temple in Jerusalem (v.5-6). Then he goes into the temple and sees the seventy elders of Israel lighting incense and worshipping a false god (v.10-13). Next, Ezekiel sees women weeping and performing pagan death rituals in the temple (v.14-15). Finally, he sees twenty-five men bowing down and worshipping the sun (v. 16-17). 

The Lord has seen enough. The idol worship of false gods means they do not worship the one true God. It is offensive and a smack in the face of the holy God who brought them out of Egypt and gave them the promised land. What will the Lord do in response?

Ezekiel 8:18, “18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

God responds to idol worship with wrath. There is punishment for choosing to worship false gods. Why? When we worship other things or put them in the place of God in our lives, we are stealing God’s glory and giving it to another. It is an assault of God’s grace, power, and authority in our lives. 

God responded with wrath by sending the nation of Israel into Babylonian exile. For us today, if we continue with our idol worship, it will result in the wrath of God for all eternity in Hell. Remove the idols from your life today. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. To follow Christ means to deny yourself and turn from the idols you used to worship. We cannot steal glory from God and be a Christian, but we must give God all authority and power in our lives. Remove the idols from your life today and find joy in following and worshipping Jesus.