Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Succinct Summation

Diagnosing the Problem

Main Point

God reveals to Ezekiel in a vision the abominations of Israel that cause His divine wrath to pour out on Judah

Outline

Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People

Ezekiel 1:1-3 - Ezekiel the Priest

Ezekiel 1:4-28 - The Glory of the Lord

Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 - Ezekiel Commissioned

Ezekiel 3:16-27 - Ezekiel the Watchman

Ezekiel 4:1-5:4 - The Dramatization of Jerusalem’s Siege

Ezekiel 5:5-17 - The Dramatization Explained

Ezekiel 6:1-14 - Israel Will Know the Lord

Ezekiel 7:1-9 - The Land of Israel will face Judgment

Ezekiel 7:10-27 - The Day of Destruction

Ezekiel 8:1-18 - Abominations Upon Abominations

Ezekiel 8:1-6 - Abomination in Public

Ezekiel 8:7-13 - Abomination in Private

Ezekiel 8:14-15 - Abomination at the Gate

Ezekiel 8:16-18 - Abomination in the Temple

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord.

In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.

Ezekiel 8:1-6 - Abomination in Public

Exegesis

1 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, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there.

The next vision of Ezekiel happens almost 14 months later on September 18, 592 BC

The leaders of Judah come to Ezekiel seeking a word from the prophet

There is no doubt that they would have come to seek a favorable word from Yahweh - exile is ending soon

Suddenly, Yahweh takes control of the prophet’s mind

2 Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man.

Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal.

The introduction to this vision is eerily similar to Ezekiel 1:26-28

3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.

Ezekiel is spiritually transported from his place in exile to Jerusalem hundreds of miles away

The image Ezekiel sees is most likely the Canaanite goddess Asherah, but no specific details are given here in the text

Asherah was the wife/partner to El, the highest god, and she was referred to as the Queen of Heaven

She was the mother of 70 of the lesser gods including Baal

The idolatrous image challenges the very sovereignty of God

What we do know is that the idolatrous worship has provoked Yahweh’s heart to jealousy

4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.

The source of this vision is directly connected with the source of the previous vision

God is the source of this vision so there is no disputing the reality of the episode

Notice the difference - the glory of God vs. the idol of Asherah

5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.”

Ezekiel is commanded to look to the north which is where most enemies would have come to attack Jerusalem

So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy.

The image is in the north symbolically giving warning to those who may attack the city

Again, we cannot know for sure the exact image, but there is significant evidence pointing to Asherah

This image provokes a jealous husband to anger and He will no longer let this adultery stand and He does this by leaving the city open to a brutal Babylonian attack

6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary?

What is the result of the abominations?

Yahweh leaving His temple!

Yahweh will be Israel’s one true God or He will not be their God at all

But you will see still greater abominations.”

You would like that idolatrous worship of a goddess would be worse case scenario, but there is more

The Conscience

What abominations do we take part in that provoke the jealousy of God?

What areas of your life fail to proceed from faith?

Romans 14:23 (ESV)

23 For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

What areas of your life are not given over to the glory of God?

What areas of your heart need revival?

Application

Christ is the answer for the sins we partake in

Christ is the answer for a life lacking in faithfulness

Christ is the answer for a life not given over to the glory of God

Christ is the answer for a heart that needs revival

Ezekiel 8:7-13 - Abomination in Private

Exegesis

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall.

8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.”

So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance.

9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.”

10 So I went in and saw.

And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel.

11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them.

The ones committing cultic worship in the temple was none other than the elders of Israel

Jaazaniah name means “Yahweh listens”

Jaazaniah was the son of Shaphan and he was one of Jerusalem’s most important men as his family was involved in Josiah’s reforms

Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up.

The elders are engaged in priestly ministry which was a sin for them do to

12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures?

Idolatrous images fill the room

For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’

”

A total change - now the elders sin in private instead of seeing the God of Israel

Instead of seeing the Lord they force Him to leave

Ironically the “gods” they worship cannot see them, but the Lord can

13 He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.”

You would like that idolatrous worship by the 70 elders would be worse case scenario, but there is more

The Conscience

Has your sin become so commonplace that, like the elders, you believe that God does not actually see it anymore?

Application

Ezekiel 8:14-15 - Abomination at the Gate

Exegesis

14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Ezekiel is brought near the temple at this point

Tammuz was a Babylonian god who is being worshipped by women AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TEMPLE!

Tammuz would be ritually mourned over each year over his death in hopes of celebrating his return based on mythology