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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 130

"Idols in his heart"

Text: Ezekiel 14:4

A HIDDEN PROBLEM

A deeper problem was surfaced up by the LORD. Some from Israel (Judah) had been exiled to Babylon. One of the major problems was because Israel had become terribly idolatrous over the years. Those who had practised idolatry knew that their idols could not protect them from being exiled. Nevertheless, they clung to their idols. It was this deep and hidden problem that Israel continued to suffer from, even though they lived in Babylon.

“Therefore speak to them, and say to them,
‘Thus says the Lord God:
‘Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart,
and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity,
and then comes to the prophet,
I the Lord will answer him who comes,
according to the multitude of his idols,
that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart,
because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.””
Ezekiel 14:4-5

1. The keeping of idols in the heart.

a) Some had given up the worship of actual physical deities:

i) Baal

ii) Asherah

b) But they continued to:

i) Keep idols in their hearts.

ii) They think of these deities constantly.

iii) They were devoted to these idols and worshiped them secretly.

c) These deities demanded many things from their devotees.

i) They are made to stumble.

ii) They fall into iniquity.

2. Coming to inquire of the prophet.

a) These elders come to ask questions of the prophet.

b) The LORD Himself will reply to them.

i) Through His prophet.

ii) He will speak to these elders about the multitude of idols in their heart.

c) He will seize (arrest) their heart.

i) They would be surprised and upset that their hidden secret was now exposed.

ii) The Lord will declare that they are estranged from Him.

iii) Their devotion to their idols will result in the Lord refusing to speak to them.

iv) He has no relationship with them.