Ezekiel - Chapter 8

Ezekiel 8.1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. Ezekiel 8.2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. Ezekiel 8.3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. Ezekiel 8.4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. Ezekiel 8.5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. Ezekiel 8.6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. Ezekiel 8.7 And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Ezekiel 8.8 Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. Ezekiel 8.9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. Ezekiel 8.10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. Ezekiel 8.11 And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Ezekiel 8.12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. Ezekiel 8.13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Ezekiel 8.14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Ezekiel 8.15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. Ezekiel 8.16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Ezekiel 8.17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Ezekiel 8.18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

Ezekiel : Chapter 8

Abominations in the Temple of Jerusalem

Chapter 8 of the book of Ezekiel confronts us with disturbing visions revealing the abominations that have taken root in the temple of Jerusalem. God, in His infinite wisdom, offers the prophet Ezekiel a striking view of the idols and dishonorable practices that corrupt the sacred sanctuary.

A Shocking Vision

In this text, Ezekiel describes four striking scenes of idolatry and desecration, highlighting the extent of spiritual corruption plaguing the people of Israel, from leaders to ordinary worshippers. While the glory of the Lord is present, the people's unfaithfulness is blatantly manifest, thus justifying severe divine judgment.

Biblical Reflections

To better understand the themes of apostasy and holiness addressed in this revelatory chapter, consider five biblical passages that illustrate these truths.

1. Jeremiah 7:30

"The Jews have done what I dislike," declares the Lord. They have desecrated the sanctuary that bears my name by setting up their detestable images there."

This verse highlights the desecration of the temple, a central theme also in Ezekiel 8.

2. 2 Kings 21:7

"He took the carved image of Asherah that he had made and placed it in the temple, about which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, 'In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.'"

This historical excerpt describes the placement of idols in the temple, a practice that the prophet Ezekiel strongly condemns.

3. Deuteronomy 4:19

"When you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon, the stars, and everything in the sky, do not be led to worship them or serve them. The Lord your God has given them to all the peoples under heaven."

This verse warns against the worship of celestial bodies, a behavior found in Ezekiel 8:16.

4. Psalms 78:58

"They provoked him to anger with their idolatrous altars and provoked him to jealousy with their idols."

This psalm summarizes Israel's idolatry, a recurring theme in Ezekiel's visions.

5. 2 Chronicles 33:7

"He placed in the temple of God a carved image, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon: 'In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.'"

This historical passage illustrates a precedent for the desecration of the temple, which the prophet Ezekiel observes with deep sadness.

Meditating on these passages, we are called to reflect on the holiness of the temple and to question our own faithfulness to God in a world often prone to infidelity.