55
Ezekiel was once again privileged to stand in the glorious presence of the Lord. It is the usual the method with which the Lord deals with mankind. First the revelation of His glory, His mercy and His grace, then judgment on those who are persisting in their sin. Eze. 8:4 The Lord is about to show Ezekiel what He sees. If we could know all that the Lord knows, our reaction would be swift and furious. He is about to open the eyes of Ezekiel to the religious corruption being conducted behind closed doors. The Lord speaks of great abominations and then of even greater abominations. Eze. 8:6 The day will dawn where the hidden things found among the people of the Lord will be openly revealed. 1 Cor. 4:5 The spiritual conditions of today will not continue on and on. There is a time of cleansing due to come from the Lord. The cleansing of the sanctuary, which is the perfection of the bride (Eph. 5:27), as yet does not have its fulfillment in the church age. Dan. 8:14
Ezekiel is brought to a door of the court. An entrance, a time of disclosure. He found there a hole in the wall which he apparently is told to enlarge that he might look in upon the abominations which the leaders of Israel were involved. Again, it must be said that there is nothing hidden from the eyes of the Lord with whom we have to deal. Heb. 4:13 When commanded of the Lord, he entered into the secret chambers and found seventy men worshiping false gods in the sanctuary. There he beheld all manner of drawing and paintings of serpents and other abominable beasts on the walls as objects of worship. Eze. 8:9-10 The seventy were the chief council of Israel. Moses had appointed seventy to accompany him as he ascended the mount that they might worship the Lord as he went into the presence of the Lord. Ex. 24:1 These were appointed to their office as leaders and spiritual advisers to the people. They were called ancients, therefore were physically, older men. They are also elders, or men of wisdom and understanding in the things of the Law. Eze. 8:11
Each of them had a censer burning the incense of the Lord in worship to their idols. Their incense, intended to be a sweet smelling savor before the Lord had become an obnoxious stench to Him. The only one of them mentioned by name is Jaazaniah (heard of Jehovah), he no doubt was the ring leader of these who were involved in this abomination. Not only did the Lord hear them but he saw every action. Foolishly, their attitude was that the Lord did not see them. They also accused Him of forsaking the land. What a flimsy excuse. The cause of spiritual dearth, whether in their day or in ours is the thing which always separates people from the Lord, iniquity. Isa. 59:2.