Journal Through the Bible: Week 80 Saturday

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Ezekiel chapter 8

Ezekiel was an important person evidently because the elders of Judah held a meeting at his house there in Babylon. I think those elders took part in a meeting they would never forget! Even if they did not see Ezekiel's vision they surely heard about it.

Ezekiel saw a vision of God and His glory! His appearance was as bright as fire. God reached out His hand and grabbed Ezekiel up by a lock of his hair. Then the Holy Spirit transported Ezekiel between heaven and earth to Jerusalem where Ezekiel saw the glory of the God of Israel there in the temple.

Does God issue any commands?

• In the vision God told Ezekiel to look toward the north. When he did he saw an idol set up in the entry way.
• When God told Ezekiel to the door of the court He told him to dig in the wall where Ezekiel found a door. God told him to open the door and go in. There Ezekiel saw unclean animals, creeping things, and idols portrayed on the walls around him. The old men of Judah were burning incense to these gods. God said that these men worshiped in secret.
• When God brought Ezekiel to the door of the gate of the temple He told him to turn and see the women weeping for Tammuz, the Babylonian god of fertility.
• When God brought Ezekiel to the inner court of the temple He told him to turn and see the twenty-five men who were worshiping the sun.

Does God make any promises?

• After showing Ezekiel the abominations of the people God said that they were bringing violence upon the land. God would punish in His jealous fury and would not spare them when they cried unto Him. (In other words, those who were worshiping idols knew that those things were not alive and could not save them because as soon as trouble found them they cried to Jehovah.)

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is God incarnate. Therefore the Man that Ezekiel saw in the flame-like vision was probably Jesus.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The book of Revelation tells of the world's idol worship and how the jealous God will one day put an end to it.