24th.: Idols in the Heart, Pt1
God sent Ezekiel to the Israelites exiled in Babylon
At one point, ‘... came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.’ (Eze. 14:1).
They nominally came to hear from God.
God responded,
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face:
should I be inquired of at all by them?” (Eze. 14:3).
God was not happy with these elders. They blended 'seeking the Lord' with worshiping false gods.
The Lord then asked these men to repent with,
“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, ‘Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from your abominations. For everyone that … separates himself from me, and sets up idols in his heart … I will set my face against that man.’” (Eze. 14:6, 7a, 8a).
The Lord wanted to be the sole God in these men’s lives.
Likewise, God wants to be the sole God in our lives.
If we worship other gods, God won't listen to us.
" ... I regarded them not." saith the Lord. (Heb 8:9d)