Few verses in Scripture have had greater impact than Ezekiel, chapters 8-10, often moving me to tears. Ezekiel has a vision of the people of Israel and their leaders, all participating in idolatry (chapter 8). It is followed by a pronouncement of judgment (chapter 9) and the departure of God’s presence from the temple in chapter 10.
An Idolatrous People
Ezekiel sees “the idol that provokes to jealousy”, an apparent Asherah pole, signaling the revival of its worship after Josiah abolished it (so Allen, Leslie, Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 28, Ezekiel 1-19, p. 142). It is in a public place in Jerusalem, perhaps as guardian of the city. Hence God’s jealousy and outrage (see Deuteronomy 32:16 which likely Ezekiel has in view).
The vision then moves to the elders of Israel and their secret idolatry. The elders were typically judges in Israel. Their job was to settle disputes using the Mosaic law. Yet all seventy are depicted in unclean surroundings worshiping idols.
At the temple gate Ezekiel sees women mourning Tammuz, a Canaanite idol. It is followed by a vision of twenty-five men in the temple court with their backs to the temple, worshiping the rising sun in the east. Sun worship was also excised by Josiah but also seems revived. No wonder Jeremiah complained of that Israel’s return to God under Josiah was only in pretense (Jeremiah 3:10).
Ezekiel wants his readers to see that all Israel bears guilt. The entire land loves idolatry. God describes Israel’s behavior as “detestable” six times in chapter 8. Their incorrigibility demands judgment.
A Judgment Scene
Six men are appointed to execute judgment on “Jerusalem”, cipher for Israel. With them is a man with a writing kit. They stand at the bronze altar where sacrifices are made to the Lord. The man with the writing kit is to go throughout the city and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament the detestable sins of Israel. Everyone else is to be killed.
The frightening part follows: “Begin at my sanctuary”. Judgment is to come upon the entire community of Israel (Jerusalem) but it is to begin at God’s temple. Those who practiced idolatry in the temple, directly before God’s face are the first to be slaughtered. Judgment begins at the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17).
God commands “defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain” (9:7). The men who worshiped the sun had defiled God’s temple and in talion God defiled the temple with their blood. Though Ezekiel interceded in prayer, judgment would proceed because “the sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great” and “the land is full of bloodshed . . . and injustice” (9:9). In another act of talion, their blood was shed because they had shed blood.
God’s Abandonment of His House
The imagery, with complex descriptions of Jerusalem and the temple now becomes quite obscure. It would have been easily understood by the Ancients who were accustomed to seeing kings travel between cities or battle locations using a “throne-chariot”.
Kings typically had a “mobile throne”, an ornately decorated chariot that served as a throne. Hence why it had wheels (10:2). The throne that Ezekiel sees (10:1) is above the cherubim, creatures that to us often seem mysterious. In addition, there is a “vault” above the cherubim that separates them from the throne. The “vault” is a term found in Genesis 1 for the expanse between heaven and earth (firmament in AV). It separated a holy God from His unholy creation.
Cherubim were the guardians of access to God. Hence why they are first mentioned in Genesis 3:24 guarding entrance to Eden to prevent man from entering God’s presence post-Fall. They were also stationed in the Holy Place guarding the ark, God’s footstool and emblem of His presence. The ark also had cherubim whose wings were spread to cover the “mercy seat”, another emblem of God’s presence.
Two things happen: First, burning coals are taken from between the wheels and scattered over the city of Jerusalem. Second, the throne-chariot leaves the temple, taking God’s presence with it. Scattering coals over Jerusalem signals the city’s destruction. The departure of God’s presence signals God has abandoned His House and His people, setting the stage for the temple’s destruction.
Warnings Ignored, Warnings Fulfilled
With the passage’s complexities, it’s easy to miss important points.
Solomon’s Failure to Honor the Covenant and its Consequences
When Solomon dedicated the temple, God’s presence filled it (1 Kings 8:10-11) signaling God had made the temple His house. Solomon declared it saying, ” I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever” (8:13). It was to be God’s dwelling place forever.
Solomon’s also said: “you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way . . . keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done’ “(8:24-25).
Solomon failed to keep the covenant. In response, God left the place that was to be his House forever, abandoning the people as they abandoned Him. Solomon was the first to depart from the covenant by practicing idolatry. The people then followed. God’s abandonment of His temple signaled He had severed His relationship with Israel.
The People’s Failure and its Consequences
In following Solomon’s lead, the people committed the sin Moses warned against (see Deuteronomy 28-30). Their idolatry exiled them from the land into the nations, much as God exiled Adam from Eden. Restoration was promised but contingent upon repentance and turning to the Lord (30:2-3).
Relevance for Christians Today
Ezekiel provides a warning to the church to remain faithful to Christ’s covenant and laws. It particularly warns against church idolatry. Idolatry is evident in our politics and easily infiltrates our deepest beliefs. Banning abortion and gun rights have become a church idols. We love Jesus but also these causes, making it easy to serve both Jesus and idols. Even Christ warned against serving Him and money.
When I first studied this passage several years ago, I was moved to tears. God was after all, abandoning His people, leaving them to be slaughtered by Nebuchadnezzar’s army and sent into exile to Babylon. It was not just tears of sorrow for those slaughtered. It was the realization that the church is also deeply guilty of violating God’s covenant.
It brought deep sorrow as I lamented our sins – the sins of bloodshed throughout our country, the gross injustices committed at our borders – separating infants and children forcibly from their parents, the church sexual abuse scandal and the spiteful anti-abortion laws that strip others of their God-given free will.
This is not the Gospel I share with friends and family, nor is it the Jesus I serve. This is not the church I’m a member of. It’s the church I lament and weep for regularly. It’s the church where many of my dear friends serve and I fear their idolatrous hearts leave them without God’s protective mark (Revelation 7:3-4) when all hell breaks loose.
And in tears I ask myself, does anyone else weep and lament the sins of the church, or am I the only one?