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repulsive things that they prized

Ezekiel 20:1-8a (JDV)

Ezekiel 20:1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel’s elders came to investigate Yahveh, and they sat down in front of me.
Ezekiel 20:2 Then the word of Yahveh happened to me:
Ezekiel 20:3 “Son of Adam, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: Are you coming to investigate me? As I live, I will not let you investigate me. This is the declaration of the Lord Yahveh.’
Ezekiel 20:4 “Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of Adam? Explain the repulsive practices of their fathers to them.
Ezekiel 20:5 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob’s house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, “I am Yahveh your God.”
Ezekiel 20:6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
Ezekiel 20:7 I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the repulsive things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahveh your God.”
Ezekiel 20:8 ” ‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the repulsive things that they prized, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt.

repulsive things that they prized

What kept these elders from getting close enough to investigate God and the things of God? They insisted on hanging on to some repulsive things — things that they prized and would not repent of.

Our generation wants to get to know God on their terms as well. They want to hang on to their bigotry and greed and sexual promiscuity and chemical addictions, but they want to search out a spiritual experience with God as well. The prophet reveals that God will not allow that. If we really want a relationship with God, it has to be on his terms. He demands that we all meet him at the cross. He commands us all to repent of our sins. That means all our sins — even the ones that our culture refuses to call sin.

LORD, forgive us for deluding ourselves into thinking that we can have you without denying ourselves.