[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 8
“He said to me: “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually provoke me to anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them” (Ezekiel 8:17-18)
IDOLATRY IN THE TEMPLE
The Lord led Ezekiel to see the following detestable things that provoked Him to anger:
- There was an idol at the entrance of the north gate of the inner court of Jerusalem (v. 3)
- All over the walls portrayed all kinds of crawling things and detestable animals and all the idols of the house of Israel. In front of them stood 70 elders of the house of Israel and Jaazaniah, so of Shaphan was standing away them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising (v. 10)
- Women were sitting at the entrance to the north gate of the house of the Lord mourning for Tammuz (v. 14)
- There were 25 men at the entrance to the temple of the house of the Lord between the portico and the altar. They faced toward the east bowing to the sun (v. 16)
This was a vision God gave to Ezekiel showing the defilement of the temple. People were worshiping idols in the dark. Their sins brought violence and destruction to the land. The glory of God departed from His house. He will no longer listen to their cry nor look upon them with pity.[:]