Fellows of a Baser Sort

O. T. #1868 "Fellows of a Baser Sort"

January 26, 2021

Ezekiel 8-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

I suspected that she had babies hidden. Sure enough this past weekend there appeared 4 cutie kittens on my front porch. One is gray and the others are orange like Miss Kitty. It is fun to watch them play with each other. They don't know there is a deadly virus out there. They don't know sorrow because people we love are dying from it. They just live day to day enjoying life as they were created by God to do. So why are we people not more like those kittens? Why do we let the burdens of life weigh us down and keep us from enjoying the life God has given us? (Guilty)

Well, it's time to dig into chapter 8 again. So far, we have learned what visions God showed Ezekiel in Jerusalem before the Babylonian army destroyed the city and people:

1. He saw the statue that was worshiped by the Hebrews, which provoked God to jealousy. (verse 3)

2. On the inner court walls of the Temple were engraved images of abhorrent creatures and     beasts (unclean) that they worshiped. (verse 10)

3. There stood 70 key leaders seen worshiping and offering incense to various gods of a baser sort, as depicted in carved images and representations on the wall of the court. Now those guys should have know better; no, they did know better, dare I say.(verse 11)

The MacArthur Bible Commentary has this to say:

Obviously, this was not the Sanhedrin, since it was not formed until after the restoration from Babylon, though the pattern had been suggested much earlier (Ex. 24:9, 10). Those men were appointed to guard against idolatry. Jaazaniah was the son of Shaphan. If he was the son of the Shaphan who read God's Word to Josiah (2Kings 22:8-11), we have some concept of the depth of sin to which the leaders had fallen. He is not to be confused with the man in 11:1, who had a different father.

Then God asked Ezekiel if he saw what the leaders of Israel were doing with their idols in dark rooms. Those 70 idolaters said the LORD did not see them, for He had deserted their land. They thought God wasn't watching them? Hmm, were they ever wrong! Also, they did it without remorse or fear. It is a blasphemous reflection upon God, as if He had forsaken them first. they forsook Him first. We can't blame God for our sins. We must admit we are the sinful one, for God is holy without sin. 

Apparently they were worshiping this idol in secret. Talk about a secret lodge. They had one in the Temple there. Those today who say that God is dead are actually saying that He isn't looking at them. They think they are not responsible to God, that they owe Him noting, and they can do as they please. (from J. Vernon McGee's book The Prophets-Ezekiel))

We must not deceive ourselves into thinking God does not see what we do, hear what we say, look into our hearts for our motives and intents. He does. We are God's temple on earth. Is He pleased by what is going on in our minds and hearts? 

Don't quit sharing Jesus!

LET IT GROW

The phrase "lewd fellows of the baser sort" rang a bell in my mind. It was used in Acts 17. Paul and Silas were preaching Jesus Christ who suffered and rose from the dead, in Thessalonica at the Jewish synagogue. They were turning the world upside down. Some people believed in Jesus, but the Jews there did not believe, were moved with envy, and caused a riot using lewd fellows of the baser sort. (Those were wicked, unbelieving men that formed a mob.) So Paul and Silas left by night and went to Berea, where the Scriptures were searched daily.

Sounds like some people do not change throughout the ages. People rebel against authority and Truth and form mobs and riot. Sad that they are destructive for a cause that does no good.

Only God can change hearts. We must be busy doing kingdom work, sharing Jesus with others while we have time. Who knows what tomorrow holds? Are we serving Jesus or our self? 

LET IT GO

I love You Lord. Your mercy never fails me. I will sing of the goodness of God. All my life You have been faithful and so good. I surrender to You.