I have been reading through Ezekiel this month. And just for the record - this is one crazy book. Man, Ezekiel had one rough gig. I am tempted to complain when I run a 12 hour day of meetings. You know, rough stuff - St. Louis Bread Co. can get seriously old.
Ezekiel, on the other hand, had to act out all these crazy judgments from God before they happened. He was God's living parable. He had to sit in a public square and build miniature cities out of bricks and then destroy them. He had to lay on his side in public for 390 days and then roll over and lay on the other side for 40 more days. He had to cook his food over human feces - well, until God recanted and allowed him to cook it over cow poop. And that is just the start.
Ezekiel had it rough. But he was God's man. He loved God and he loved God's people and he was willing to suffer so that God's grace could come and bring repentance and restoration to people near to God in religious behavior but far from God in their hearts.
I can't help be struck, and challenged, by the stark comparison between Ezekiel and the elders of the people - the recognized leaders. God gives Ezekiel a vision to show him how God sees these men. Read this:
And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 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. And before them stood seventymen of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud ofincense went up. 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? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’” - Ezekiel 8:7-12
What a crazy and disturbing vision. These are the leaders of God's people. They are respected and honored. But God doesn't pay attention to their public faces. He doesn't care what people think about them. He sees them as they really are - and then shows that vision to Ezekiel. And what a creepy, disturbing vision it is. They are all in a single room, but unaware that they are surrounded by others. Each thinks they are alone, in the dark with just a flickering light "in their room of pictures." But really, they are not sinning in private. It's more like they are in front of two-way glass and Ezekiel and God (and now us) see through it and can see clearly what they are doing.
It seems like every couple weeks I am finding out about another pastor who lived a secret life of rebellion against God (usually involving sexual sin) while still leading God's people. I know there are many, many more who aren't acting out their sinful desires with real women, but are sitting in the dark, assumably alone, "in their room of pictures" with their pants around their ankles. I wonder how many of us would change our internet viewing habits if we knew we were sitting in front of a two-way mirror with an audience always watching us.
But this passage goes much deeper than just speaking to us today about the plague of porn and infidelity. It speaks to us about the plague of idolatry. These men were in their secret rooms - symbolic of their hearts - the place they go and truly worship - and they lit incense to pictures of "creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel." They were followers of the One and True God - but still looked to idols in their hearts to meet their deepest needs.
So I am driven to ask: what are the idols that drive us. What are the things I turn to in order to make me feel secure, worthwhile, strong, and comforted? It could be porn - or gambling - or entertainment. It could also be the size of my church, how fast it is growing, how many people list me as a meaningful influence in their lives, or how many people read my blog. It could anything that I look to other than God to worship. It will be something good - like sex or music or money or influence - but it will be something good that I make the best. Something that is good that I make god.
One final note. Did you notice that Ezekiel called Jaazaniah out by name? Ezekiel was obviously surprised to see him in that room. I don't know who that guy was (not sure anyone knows anymore), but it made me pause and see these guys not as a group of wayward idiots, but as a collection of independent, well-thought-of leaders. It made me realize that it could be my name - my secret sins, my insecurities, and my idolatries - put on display.
And for that I am humbled and grateful. Ezekiel's crazy ministry hasn't ended - he still calls God's people - and especially those who claim to be leaders of his people - to repentance and renewed devotion to the One True God. The call to Israel is the same call to us today: look and be instructed. May God lead us all to a genuine worship of him and him alone.
Steve Mizel is pastor at The Journey-Metro East, Edwardsville, IL.
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