Recently I read Ezekiel 14, and I was amazed at the timeliness of its message. Several of the elders of the nation of Israel approached the prophet in order to inquire of the LORD, and though Ezekiel himself could not have know the motive of their hearts, God revealed it to him. He said, “…these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity” (v.3). The context of this verse suggests that these men were outwardly righteous, never openly worshiping anyone but God, and yet 1 Samuel 16:7 teaches us that “…man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” These men could not fool God by their external conformity to God’s law, because he knew that inwardly they worshiped gods of their own design.
This is certainly not unlike many Christians today. We become very good at projecting an outward image of devotion to God, while our lives are focused on worldly pursuits such as financial success, getting ahead at work, enjoying family life, or just pleasing ourselves. And so we come to inquire of God in prayer, but our hearts are divided. We can make a good show of humility and faith, yet our hearts are devoted to things other than the Lord, but God is not fooled concerning our true motives.
God’s response to the Jewish elders was clear. Those who sought answers from the Lord would not receive them in words but in deeds, for God would exercise judgment on them according to their commitment to their idols. This he promises in v.7-8:
For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I Yahweh will answer him by Myself. I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am Yahweh.
He knew their inquiry was insincere, and ultimately unhelpful. They came looking for information about their present circumstances and the threat of captivity in Babylon, but God was interested in something far more than their homes, vineyards, and family welfare. He wanted to capture their hearts. To this end, God said in v.6, “Therefore…Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.” The idols that Israel was worshiping had caused her to stumble into all kinds of vile wickedness, and God pleaded with them through his prophet to repent of their secret idolatry of the heart.
This, I believe, is what is needed in our church today. As God’s people, we must repent of the idols which we keep locked away inside our hearts: idols of pleasure, financial security, recognition and honor, comfort, and self-reliance, just to name a few. What God wants from us is the same thing he desired of Israel in v.5, “…that I may seize [them] by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” Will you ask the Lord to identify the idols of your heart, and will you allow God to have your heart completely?