Ezekiel

Ezekiel 8: God sees worship hidden in darkness

Begin in prayer

Before God shows Ezekiel what happens inside the temple, let us ask Him to search our hidden lives. Pray that the Lord would settle our hearts, draw near to our family and show us Christ in Ezekiel 8.

They don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own deeds have engulfed them. They are before my face.

Hosea 7:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand what You expose and see the mercy Jesus offers to guilty people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

While elders sit before Ezekiel, the Spirit takes him to Jerusalem in the visions of God. He sees God's glory and an image that provokes Him to jealousy near the temple's northern gate. Inside, seventy elders offer incense before images and say the LORD does not see them. Women weep for Tammuz, and about twenty-five men worship the sun with their backs toward the temple. God names these abominations and the violence filling the land as provocations of His anger. He will deal in wrath and refuse to hear their loud cries.

As you read Ezekiel 8, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God sees false worship and will judge those who provoke Him with it.

With Judah's elders sitting before him, Ezekiel is brought to Jerusalem in the visions of God. He sees the LORD's glory there, yet also an image that provokes Him to jealousy. As God shows one scene after another, the corruption reaches further into the temple's worship. Seventy elders offer incense before pictures of creatures and idols while claiming that the LORD does not see them. Women weep for Tammuz, a false god, and about twenty-five men turn their backs on the temple to worship the sun. God also names the violence that fills the land, joining false worship with the harm His people do. Their deeds provoke Him to anger and lead to His departure from the sanctuary. He will deal in wrath and refuse to hear their loud cries, exposing the lie that their worship is hidden from Him.

How does Ezekiel 8 show us that God sees false worship and will judge those who provoke Him with it?

God exposes what His people bring before Him.

Ezekiel sees an image provoking jealousy near the northern gate, while the LORD's glory is there (verses 3 to 6). God shows him their abominations. His sanctuary cannot make the worship of idols acceptable.

God sees what leaders do in the dark.

Seventy elders offer incense before images on the wall (verses 10 to 12). They say the LORD does not see them. God shows Ezekiel their hidden worship and repeats the words they use to excuse it.

God will judge the worship that provokes Him.

Women mourn for Tammuz, and men worship the sun with their backs toward the temple (verses 14 to 18). The land is also full of violence. God announces wrath and says He will not hear their cries.

Memorize

Therefore will I also deal in wrath. My eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity.

Ezekiel 8:18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin am I hiding from God, and will I bring it to Jesus?

The elders say, “Yahweh doesn’t see us.” Yet the Lord shows Ezekiel the worship they think is hidden. He also hears their excuse. A dark room cannot conceal guilt from the God who sees us.

Jesus knew the sins of the people He came to save. He carried their sins to the cross and suffered in their stead, bringing His people forgiveness through His death. His sacrifice settled their guilt in full and needs nothing added to secure their salvation. He rose again, triumphant over the grave.

Bring your hidden sin into the light before Him. Turn from it and trust Jesus for the forgiveness He promises to everyone who comes. Ask Him for a heart that worships God with honesty. The One who sees your guilt can save you from its judgment.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God sees hidden sin, and Jesus died and rose to save guilty people who trust Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for seeing and exposing hidden sin, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”

Revelation 14:7

Lord God, thank You for seeing the truth and showing sinners their need of Jesus. Forgive the sins we hide, and help each one turn from sin and believe in Him. Please make our worship honest and teach us to obey You when nobody else can see us. Amen.