Wicked Abominations Seen Through a Hole in the Wall
Beginning in Ezekiel 8, the prophet begins a description of what is taking place in Jerusalem leading up to the Babylonian captivity (and providing reasons for such). While it seems to be from the perspective of a tour of Jerusalem and the temple, God, through Ezekiel, is giving a tour into the hearts of the Jews therein: “Son of man, seest thou what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations” (8:6).
As his guide led him to the wall of the temple, Ezekiel sees a hole in the wall (8:7), and after his guide told him to dig through such, he went inside to see “the wicked abominations that they do here” (8:9). He begins to describe the idolatrous worship that they were offering inside, influenced by the foreign nations around them. They had so deceived themselves into thinking, “The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth” (8:12). Yet, his guide responded to such wickedness, “Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do” (8:13), and again (8:15). He then concluded in this chapter,
Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. [8:17-18]
As I read this vivid imagery from this prophet, I could not help but contemplate on the condition of America today. I realize that Judah/Israel was a theocracy, and America is not, and I realize that these were the people of God, corresponding more appropriately to the condition of the church today, but they were still a nation that God would soon punish. Try as I may, I cannot ignore the fact that the Bible (not to mention history) demonstrates time and again that God rules as Sovereign King over all nations and kingdoms (cf. Dan. 2:21), and wicked nations that do not practice righteousness will not endure (cf. Prov. 14:34). Therefore, if God would allow us to see the true condition of our nation through “a hole in the wall,” what would we see?
We would peer inside, and therein we would find a woman on her way home from work. An attacker grabs her and stabs her repeatedly over an extended period of time. Nonetheless, none of her neighbors who witness such comes to her aid or calls the authorities until after she dies. Those who do express astonishment are not surprised in the brutality of the murder as much as the apathy of its citizens. Thus, we note a mark of our society—people are not as important to us as our possessions. “Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than they do.”
We look further to see a well-known scientist and entertainer who has taught science to children for many years come out recently and spread falsehood by advocating organic evolution as factual, and urging everyone to deny creationism as truth. Thus, he is further advocating false theories and doctrines, which only continues to confuse the public as to the infamous question, “What is truth?” In a society that already is confused religiously, many people are shirking religion altogether because of the number of “counterfeits” out there! Still others complicate matters by teaching and advocating, “Whatever you believe to be true is truth.” It has led to a society steeped in religious and moral chaos! “Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than they do.”
We look further to see a nation that is increasing its exposure of sexual activities (and aberrations) to its young people. Children are watching exposed nakedness on television and movies. Husbands are viewing pornography on the family computer late at night when everyone is sleeping. Homosexuals are proudly advocating their lifestyles from the halls of Congress to the couches of nightly television viewing. Young girls are crying themselves to sleep because they are either are pregnant from their boyfriends, or because they have contracted herpes. College students are committing suicide because of pressures they never had to face when they lived at home. Childhood innocence is destroyed, and the sexual revolution rolls onward!
Everywhere we look through this hole in the wall, we find immorality, pride, selfishness, lost priorities, every form of worldliness, no respect for any type of authority, violence, lack of compassion for our fellow man and general ungodliness. “Is it a light thing to the United States of America that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.” When will we wake up? When will the church rise above the loud voices of wickedness with a call to repentance? When will the church truly weep over the sins of our nation, and beg God to forgive us? Actually, we do not need such a “vision” as this to see these wicked abominations through a hole in the wall—we already know them and see them vividly every day! May God have mercy on us all!