Creature or Creator

O.T. #1867  "Creature or Creator"

January 25, 2021

Ezekiel 8-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

I am always astounded with the things God does to reveal Himself to me. Last night I went out on the front porch to bring in the remaining catfood in a bowl. (A skunk has been visiting us lately since the warmer weather and I did not want to encourage its visits.) So I stepped off the porch to see the beautiful sunset God gave us. Looking around, I saw a dozen deer in the field, some were running around. What a sight. Suddenly my presence was known and the older does began grunting with each other, warning the young ones of danger. (The young ones ran into the woods.) So I hid in the holly bushes and the mammas continued to graze. It was getting dark so my binoculars did not help my vision. I consider it a blessing to be able to watch wildlife on our farm. Now, I don't worship the beautiful animals. I recognize that God is their Creator, too. However, the people of Judah did not hold my same views. Read on for more details.

In Ezekiel's vision, he was taken up by the spirit to Jerusalem to see the abominations of idolatry practiced by God's people. He is shown five activities in their worship of idols that resulted in the glory of God departing the Temple:

1.The image of jealousy idol stood at the entrance to the inner court of the Temple. (verses 3-5) If this was an image of Asherah, the Canaanite goddess of fertility, then they were encouraging sexual immorality and self-gratification. More details can be found in the previous post. How they polluted the place that was holy unto the Lord.

2. Next, Ezekiel saw hole in the wall in the inner court, dug it bigger, then went through a doorway.  He found a room with a wall on which was engraved images of every kind of abhorrent thing-crawling creatures and beasts-as well as all the idols of the house of Israel. (verses 7-10) No wonder God was put out with them.

Judah was worshiping the creature instead of the Creator (El Eyon).  They couldn't get any lower. (In Egypt, the pagans were doing the same thing, making different gods of things. So the plagues revealed that God was more powerful than their false gods/idols.)

LET IT GROW

In Romans 1:21, 25 Paul tells us, Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God... Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.

Mankind does not change when living in the flesh and not by the Spirit of God. We read about the Egyptians, Romans, and see it today. What scenes Ezekiel saw his people doing in God's holy Temple, how they were sinning. The Israelites sunk down to the level of the nations round about her, and was no longer a witness for the living and true God. For this reason He destroyed the Temple.

 Sin would expel the people from their land and God from His sanctuary. The Temple is defiled as the people no longer worshiping the living and true God so they were breaking the first two commandments.

God's Spirit works within us in a similar way, revealing sin that lurks in our lives. How comfortable would you feel if God held an open house in your life today? (Life Application Study Bible)

We should be glad when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins. After all, it means we are a child of God. 

LET IT GO

Keep me faithfully worshiping You our Creator, not Your creation.

As one of Your creation, may I always worship my God, not things.

Keep my priorities straight-loving and worshiping Jesus.