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offensive and impressive

Ezekiel 8:1-4 (JDV)

Ezekiel 8:1 It happened in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me, and there the hand of the Lord Yahveh fell on me.
Ezekiel 8:2 Then I looked, and noticed someone who looked like a man. From what seemed to be his waist down was fire, and from his waist up was something that looked bright, like the gleam of amber.
Ezekiel 8:3 He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by a lock of hair on my head. Then the Breath lifted me up between the land and the sky and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy was located.
Ezekiel 8:4 I noticed the impressive appearance of the God of Israel there, like the vision I had seen in the plain.

offensive and impressive

Ezekiel saw the offensive statue that was provoking God to jealousy and the impressive appearance of God in the same place. He knew that things could not stay that way. One or the other must go. As long as his people continued to flirt with rebellion and evil, God would have to judge them.

Our society today wants to welcome all and defend all. It cannot happen. God’s glory will not stay where evil is welcomed. We will have to make a choice.

LORD, give us the wisdom to reject evilin all its forms.