#ezekiel 8

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Vision of Idolatry in the Temple

1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the fifth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in the house, and the elders of Juda were sitting before me: and the hand of the Lord came upon me. 2 And I looked, and, behold, the likeness of a man: from his loins and downwards there was fire, and from his loins upwards there was as the appearance of amber. 3 And he stretched forth the likeness of a hand, and took me by the crown of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and sky, and brought me to Jerusalem in a vision of God, to the porch of the gate that looks to the north, where was the pillar of the Purchaser. 4 And, behold, the glory of the Lord God of Israel was there, according to the vision which I saw in the plain.

5 And he said to me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes toward the north, and, behold, I looked from the north toward the eastern gate. 6 And he said to me, Son of man, hast thou seen what these do? They commit great abominations here so that I should keep away from my sanctuary: and thou shalt see yet greater iniquities.

7 And he brought me to the porch of the court. 8 And he said to me, Son of man, dig: so I dug, and behold a door. 9 And he said to me, Go in, and behold the iniquities which they practise here. 10 So I went in and looked; and beheld vain abominations, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon them round about. 11 And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Jechonias the son of Saphan stood in their presence in the midst of them, and each one held his censer in his hand; and the smoke of the incense went up. 12 And he said to me, Thou hast seen, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel do, each one of them in their secret chamber: because they have said, The Lord see not; The Lord has forsaken the earth. 13 And he said to me, Thou shalt see yet greater iniquities which these do.

14 And he brought me in to the porch of the house of the Lord that looks to the north; and, behold there were women sitting there lamenting for Thammuz. 15 And he said to me, Son of man, thou hast seen; but thou shalt yet see evil practices greater then these.

16 And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty men, with their back parts toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces turned the opposite way; and these were worshipping the sun. 17 And he said to me, Son of man, thou hast seen this. Is it a little thing to the house of Juda to practise the iniquities which they have practised here? for they have filled the land with iniquity: and, behold, these are as scorners. 18 Therefore will I deal with them in wrath: mine eye shall not spare, nor will I have any mercy. — Ezekiel 8 | Brenton's Septuagint Translation (BST) The English translation of The Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton (1851) Cross References: Genesis 6:11; Numbers 7:50; Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 6:32; 2 Kings 23:4-5; Job 22:13; Psalm 10:11; Psalm 78:58; Proverbs 1:28; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 29:15; Isaiah 44:13; Jeremiah 3:2; Jeremiah 7:18-19; Jeremiah 11:18; Jeremiah 38:17; Jeremiah 44:4; Ezekiel 1:2; Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 1:27-28; Ezekiel 11:12; Ezekiel 40:14; Ezekiel 44:4; Luke 10:1; Acts 8:39; 2 Corinthians 12:2

[s-o-a-p-ing]

EZEKIEL S.O.A.P. ~ CHAPTER 8

Wednesday, 5/24/23

SCRIPTURE:

He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? "They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ” ~ Ezekiel 8:12

OBSERVATION:

This whole (tough), chapter:

Look...

...do you see...

...go in and see...

...have you seen...

...you will see...

...do you see this...

...have you seen...

...look...

...at what others are doing...

...and what He has in store for them...

What about what I'm doing?

...in "the darkness" within...

...at the "shrine of my own idol" - my self...

...even though I know the Lord DOES see...

Thankfully, Jesus spares me from what the Lord has in store for sinful me...

APPLICATION:

Look...

See...

PRAYER:

Father of all grace and mercy - as ask forgiveness for trying to hide or make excuses for those things I do that I know are not in Your perfect will... and thank You for the Holy Spirit's touching me in reminder... and thank You for Jesus Who spares me from Your deserved anger and punishment... may I surrender my trying to do to just allowing You to do in me... In Jesus's Name, and for Your eternal glory and honor...

Embracing the Father's goodness with and for you and yours...

𝒈

<))><

[psalmonesermons]

Insights into Ezekiel Chapter 8:1-18

Chapters 8-11 now go onto to describe Ezekiel’s second vision. It has been estimated that some 14 months had elapsed between the prophet’s first and second visions.

Wickedness in the Holy Temple

God reveals to Ezekiel in detail via the angel just how utterly evil the practices of specifically the elders have become having previously dealt with the evil practices of the whole people of Israel i.e. rank and file in his first vision as described in Chapter 1.

1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire, and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the colour of amber. 3 He stretched out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.

On a specific year, a specific month and specific day a delegation of the Jewish elders had come to Ezekiel seeking a word from the Lord and certainly looking for some crumb of comfort. However, they were in for a big disappointment, and no sooner had they come to prophet when the hand of the Lord fell upon Ezekiel and there appeared a heavenly being who fitted the description of the first angelic being in Chapter 1:27. The angel stretched out his hand and took the prophet by a lock of his hair and transports him supernaturally into a vision of Jerusalem and specifically to the inner court of the Holy Temple where a detestable idolatrous image had been set up and was provoking the Lord to an angry jealousy. However at that time the glory of the Lord had not departed from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

5 Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

The prophet is now permitted to take a tour of the Holy Temple to see the various idolatrous practices being conducted there. These abominations get progressively worse. The angel leads Ezekiel in successive steps from the outside of the HT in towards the Holy of Holies. The first of the four abominations is that mentioned in verse 5 the image of jealousy at the entrance to the temple. Some commentators think that this idol was an Asherah or pagan fertility Goddess in the form of a woman. This idol was located where those guards who should protect the Holy Temple should stand. How ironic this idol could offer no protection against whomsoever the Lord’s sends in judgement.

6 Furthermore He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.” 7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.8 Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door.

God tells Ezekiel that in effect He is being driven out of His Holy Temple by the wicked abominations being practiced inside it. Ezekiel’s attention is now drawn towards a hole that someone has started digging in the Temple Court wall. The prophet is instructed to enlarge the hole until he finds a secret door.

9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” 10 So I went in and saw, and there—every creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’”

Ezekiel is instructed to open the door where to his horror he sees a room full of despicable idols which are also depicted on the walls of the room. The idols are different in nature including those depicted as insects and others depicted as animals. He sees 70 of the elders of Israel whose job it was to protect all the Holy Things in Judaism offering incense to these evil idols. Shockingly, one of the elders Jaazaniah was from a priestly family and a righteous line. These 70 elders think that God has departed and that He can longer see their heathen worship.

13 And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.” 14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.

Ezekiel is given a further instruction to move towards the northeast corner of the Temple and discover even more vile abominations being practiced in the Lord’s House. The prophet now sees women weeping for the Babylonian nature god called Tammuz. This pagan practice celebrated the seasons of nature believing that the weeping would resurrect Tammuz the spring God to go on a produce a good crop harvest in summer. What an insult to the Creator God and yet another clear breach of the 10 commandments.

15 Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.” 16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.

The prophets tour now reaches its very lowest point in the inner court of the Lord’s House he sees between the porch and the altar and with their backs to God 25 men who were worshipping the sun. Again, an abomination clearly forbidden in the 10 commandments. They are rubbing the Lord’s nose into their sins in a place where He promised to dwell.

17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

Should such abominations ever occur the Temple of the Living God? These sinful people thought it was no big deal to profane God’s own Temple. Not content with all their violence and other sins outside the Temple they had to come to do worse in the face of God. The party is over their judgment is knocking at the door. In summary these Jews had worshipped every type of creature including humans or part humans even the heavenly bodies and celebrated the Gods of many other lands such as Babylon, Egypt, and others. Each act of idolatrous worship violates the 10 commandments given to them via Moses. It is now the Lord's time for payback.

[ntamain]

There is just something soo *clenches fist* about the way the zombie virus works in TWD.

Like the whole concept that EVERYBODY is infected. Like there is no way out of it!! There is no more peaceful death!! No more noble sacrifice where you die to protect somebody that you love because you will come back!!

Your loved one sings you to death and then has to murder you to keep you from coming back!!! Your noble sacrifice can end up costing them their life anyway because you might be the one killing them!!

It's just sooo [unintelligble screaming]

[midnightmagicks]

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Day 8: Free Day (Spontaneous)

Spontaneous: performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.

Warm firelight danced across the length of the somehow cozy ishgardian inn room. This room was more like a small apartment nowadays; The occupant practically renting the room permanently. Another nearly permanent fixture of this particular room sat in his usual spot nearest the fireplace, curled up in a large cushioned chair. 

While the owner of the inn room was out currently, E’mal waited patiently within for his no doubt speedy return. Hopefully speedy, given everything that had occurred this choice day. On a normal occasion, E’mal would busy himself with either a book or perhaps a knitting project to pass the time. It wasn’t uncommon for the other to take care of a task or job before retiring for the evening. However, his mind right now would not allow for that kind of focus. So the small Rava, curled comfortably on his side, gazed at a new piece of jewelry that graced his hand.  His left hand, to be precise.

The ring was breathtaking. A beautiful plant-like filigree adorned with small diamonds and pearls that wove to the centerpiece; A violet gemstone array in the shape of a flower. He hadn’t been able to stop staring at it since Ezekiel had slipped it onto his finger. He could feel his cheeks flush once again as he giggled to himself, pulling his hand to his chest in pure glee. 

He was taken completely unaware by the proposal. He knew Ezekiel very well by this point, he’d say. The man was not one to take spontaneous action. So this came as an even greater surprise, in his eyes. He had fully and completely not expected this. How had he missed Ezekiel planning something so important? When did the man find the time? 

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard him; Heavy boots combined with subtly metallic clangs. The knob of the door turned and E’mal sat up straight, staring towards the figure entering the door with a bright smile. He hopped from his seat, tail wiggling happily as he nearly bounced his way to the door to greet his new fiancé.

Mentions @bloodredhands :) This is a sufficient way to announce that Gay Bunnies are getting married in game, right?

[artificial-hope]

If and when Ezekiel gets a journal for whatever reason he will never ever write it in english to keep his privacy and to make it even worse he switches languages every few pages so it’s make it even more of a headache to translate

[kidskulls]

sometimes those stupid little sketches you do during class is a necessity

[walkswithmyfather]

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.” —Acts 2:32 (NLT)

“Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” I answered, “Lord GOD, only you know the answer to that question.” Then he said to me, “Speak to these bones for me. Tell them, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord GOD says to you: I will cause breath to come into you, and you will come to life! I will put sinew and muscles on you, and I will cover you with skin. Then I will put breath in you, and you will come back to life! Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” —Ezekiel 37:3‭-‬6 (ERV)

“I have always kept the Lord in front of me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. That's why I'm so happy! That's why I am full of joy! That's why my body lives in hope! For you will not abandon me in the grave, nor will you allow your Holy One to experience decay. You have shown me the path of life, filling me with joy with your presence and the delight of living with you forever.” —Psalm 16:8-‬11 (FBV)

“For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”—Acts 2:39 (TPT)

“Easter Explained: An 8-Day Guide to Celebrating Holy Week.” A Devotional By Spoken Gospel - Day 7: “Holy Saturday”:

“For the last 1,600 years, Christians around the world remember the last days of Jesus' life during Holy Week. Today is Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday remembers the day Jesus rested in his tomb. We know relatively little about what happened during the day Jesus lay buried in his tomb.

We know that it was a Sabbath day, a day of rest for faithful Jews. And we know that the religious leaders were afraid. Jesus had claimed he would rise from the dead on the third day (Matthew 27:62-63). They were worried Jesus' disciples might try to steal his body and pretend he rose from the dead, making their problems worse. So they asked the Roman governor to post guards at Jesus' tomb to prevent any false resurrections (Matthew 27:64-65). Not much else is known about what happened on this particular Saturday.

And that might be part of this day's significance. Jesus is dead because nothing is supposed to happen. There are no more miracles to be done, no more Jewish laws to fulfill, no more sin to atone for, and no more powers to fight. On the cross Jesus said, 'It is finished' (John 19:30). Everything Jesus came to do, he did. So with nothing left to accomplish, Jesus rested. At the very least, this means we can rest too. If Jesus rested knowing there was nothing left to do in order to save his people, we can rest knowing that Jesus has done everything to make us his people.

One of Jesus' ancestors, King David, wrote: '...my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your faithful one see decay' (Psalm 16:9-10). God had once promised David that his dynasty would last forever, and even after he rested in death, God would raise one of his sons to rule God's people forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). David was confident that God would preserve, protect, and provide for his dynasty even through and beyond death. He knew that his death would not be the end of his dynasty or God's promises.

Holy Saturday is a day of mourning, but not a day without hope. Jesus' day in the tomb reminds us that we will all know death. We will watch the death of our loved ones. Eventually, we will all fall asleep one last time. But Holy Saturday is good news because Jesus announces that death is never more than a nap. In Jesus, death is a day of rest before the dawn of a new creation and a much needed break before a new era of renewed and resurrection life.

So I pray that on this Holy Saturday you would accept that Jesus' death proves the depths of God's promises. There is nothing you can do to add to them because God can resurrect us even from our graves.”

[l33t-hax0r-tournament]

ROUND 0 MATCH 24

Yasuho Hirose (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: JoJolion) vs. Ezekiel Jones (The Librarians)

[ev]

mr abraham walking dead i love youuuu

[fountainpenguin]

life of a loser is so good

Thank you 💚

I have a lot of fond memories of my TDI 'fics and how they helped me grow my love for expanding on canon, writing large casts of characters, and playing with the friendships and conflicts that arise due to forced proximity because you're literally stuck in a 5-star hotel with these people and can't do anything about it... I certainly wouldn't have the 'fics I'm writing today if I'd never written Life of a Loser!

Honestly, it's SO tempting to polish my drafts for the other elimination 'fics I wrote... My Staci one didn't survive the draft because of a specific plot twist I wanted that turned out to be too ambitious, but I love Leonard and how his 'fics were coming. There are some gut-wrenching things I wrote for the Leonard-Tammy dynamic in my Ridonculous Race draft (and a lot of manipulative Topher in both that and "Beatin' Path") and if opportunity arises to spare the time & motivation, I'd love to post more of that :)

I did have some early Mario drabbles I used to post, but I consider Life of a Loser my first "official" fanfic. Take me back to the days of writing Noah and Eva just constantly dunking on anti-hero Ezekiel and bonding over it. NoVa being besties who are canonically down to split a million dollars with each other, my beloved...

[doulafaith]

Harmony

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3 I am sure many of us have witnessed two distinct ways of singing a song and playing an instrument; and one appears to be more of a gift or an acquired gift than the other. There is the soloist and musician who studies the notes and practices methodically until the…

[gyroshrike]

"Apologies. The King is not taking visitors at this time."

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Our Daily Homily

by F.B. Meyer

Ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people. - Ezekiel 36:8

Very magnificent is this address to the mountains of Israel. At the moment the prophet spoke they were lying waste, and the people of Idumea were plotting to possess them; but this chapter reiterates the assurance that they should be tilled, sown, and possessed.

It seems to me as though these words may be addressed to desolate hearts that are suffering from heartrending grief. Whereas they were once full of mirth, they are now desolate and lonely. The light of their eyes has departed; the voice that made music is still; the presence that filled the home is gone. Is such your case? Behold, God will do better unto you than at your beginnings, and the old estates shall be apportioned and inherited. Bind this promise to your heart; the desolate land shall be tilled, and they shall say, This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden, and the wastes are inhabited (Ezekiel 36:34-35). Do you think that you will never be glad again; that shadow will always lie athwart your path; and that desolation shall hold undisputed empire? It shall not be so. O desolate mountains, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield fruit; and it is near to come.

But before these promises can be realized, you must let your sorrow work to its full result in the purification and sanctification of your heart. Great trouble has been allowed to come that you might know the vanity and evil of your own heart, and be led to claim the promises of Ezekiel 36:25-29. They are exceeding great and precious. Note specially the words, "In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities, the wastes shall be builded, and the desolate land tilled" (Ezekiel 36:33-34).

[touchofgoddotworld]

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? (Pt.5) (283) – February 1 2025

Choose your Podcast App to Play this episode The supernatural transformation of a fallen man into a child of God as man turns to God and away from evil. As selfish man gives his life to Christ in an exchange for the free gift of eternal life and reconciliation with God Himself. All because Christ selflessly gave His life for man. This program covers the following Scriptures from the Amplified…

[jaguar726]

This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea

Daily Verse First Reading – Ezekiel 47: 1-2; 8-9; 12 Ezekiel 47:1-2 The River From the Temple47 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate…