Audio Download

Ezekiel 14:1-23 Idols in our Hearts – The Stumbling Block of our Iniquity

[Study Aired April 22, 2024]

Introduction

We will look at chapter 14 of Ezekiel which deals principally with idols of our hearts, which the Bible calls the stumbling block of our iniquity. Idols are images made by man and worshiped as deities. Since these idols are the work of man, they reflect man’s carnal wisdom and tradition. 

1Ch 16:26  For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. 

Isa 2:8  Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: 

Isa 45:16  They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

The idols of the heart, therefore, represent the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition which prevent us from knowing the truth of the word of the Lord. Right at the beginning of creation, when Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent, the Lord told Adam that because of what he had done, the earth or ground was cursed such that he shall eat from the earth in sorrow and that thorns and thistles shall the earth bring forth.  

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 
Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

The thorns and the thistles that come from the earth means that what naturally comes from our earthen vessels or flesh is false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition which is represented here by thorns and thistles.

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

We know from the word of the Lord that we are able to appreciate spiritual truth by the things that are made. No father or mother teaches his children how to lie. However, children naturally lie. Since they are earthen vessels, what comes out are these thorns and thistles or false doctrines.  

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

In Paul’s farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus, he warned them that of their own selves men shall arise speaking perverse things. Our own selves here refer to our earthen vessels that naturally come up with false doctrines, that is, perverse things.  

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

The fact that we have come to know the Lord does not extricate us from false doctrines in our heavens or earthen vessels. It is when we start to submit to Him that He gradually takes away our false doctrines.

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 
Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 
Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The first part of today’s study shows us how our false doctrines or idols of our hearts prevent us from coming to know the truth of the word of the Lord. It also shows us how the Lord uses these false doctrines to blind us as He keeps us in outer darkness until He comes to us with His words. 

The second part of our study today deals with the Lord’s judgment of our old man. Here in this chapter, we are shown the whole of the Lord’s judgment tools that He uses against our old man and the people of the world. 

Idols of our Hearts

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 

If we are the Lord’s elect, then we are the elders of Israel whom the Lord is addressing here in verse 1. In this case, Ezekiel represents our Lord Jesus Christ to whom we come to hear the word of the Lord. In verse 3, the Lord identifies our problem. That is, we have set up idols of our heart which are a stumbling block of our iniquity before Him. As we have explained in the introductory portion of this study, the idols of our hearts refer to the false doctrines in our heavens which have become a stumbling block of our iniquity before the Lord. A stumbling block means a difficulty that prevents progress, understanding or agreement. What this means is that it is our false doctrines in our hearts and mind which are the stumbling blocks that prevent our progress in the Lord as it makes it impossible for us to understand the truth of the word of the Lord.

Mal 2:7  For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Mal 2:8  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 

In verse 3, this stumbling block is described as being of our iniquity. That is to say that it comes from our iniquity. What is iniquity? This is how the Bible defines iniquity. 

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

It is what is within us which causes us to be stubborn before the Lord. As we all know, it is our flesh or our old man that is stubborn before the Lord. Sin, on the other hand, is the outward manifestation of the iniquity within us. The idols of our hearts, which are a stumbling block of iniquity, therefore affirms the fact that our flesh is a repository of false doctrines. That means, out of our earthen vessels, we produce thorns and thistles or false doctrines.

It is important to note that the question the Lord asked Ezekiel saying, “Should I be enquired of at all by them?” is a rhetorical one. That means that the question was asked to make a statement and not to require an answer. Definitely, the Lord is making a statement here that when we harbor these idols of our hearts or idolize these false doctrines in our hearts and minds, there is no way we can hear from Him. 

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. 

Verse 4 shows us that if we continue to treasure the idols of the heart more than the truth of the Lord’s words, what will happen is that the Lord will cause us to be deceived by answering us according to the false doctrines in our hearts. Again, by the things that are made, we are able to know the Lord. We speak to children according to what they know. I remember when my brother was teaching his son (four years old) that God is all knowing and that He sees everything done here on earth and in the heavens. His son then asked my brother whether God sees him when he goes to the washroom. When my brother answered yes, that He is there with us even in the washroom, the response of my nephew was, “that is not good!!” He struggled to see how a good God can see his nakedness in the washroom. To make it simple, my brother told him that God sees everything here on earth and in the heavens except when we go to the washroom.  That was when he became comfortable. 

This illustration shows us that the Lord answers us according to what we have in our hearts and minds. Have you heard of some of our brothers and sisters in Babylon in the churches of this world having the harrowing experience of being tortured in hell? I have read books, during my sojourn in the churches, of people having this out-of-body experience in hell. This is because they have this idol of the heart or false doctrine of the lake of fire being a literal fire that will burn people forever. They are therefore being answered according to the multitude of idols in their hearts. To the elect, when Christ comes to us with His truth, these idols of the heart are destroyed. However, to those who are not given to know the truth in this age, being answered according to their idols of the heart is a way that they become entrenched in deception such that they continue in outer darkness until they die.

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Taking the house of Israel in their own heart in verse 5 is the same as being deceived by the Lord.   

Eze 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. 
Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: 
Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

In verse 6, the idols and the abominations, from which we are to turn away, refer to the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition. Until we come to see that what we thought was the truth of the word of the Lord are all lies of the adversary, we are not ready to repent from our ways.

The Lord answering us Himself in verse 7 when we come to Him with our idols of the heart, or our false doctrines, means we are given over by the Lord for the devil to deceive us. As we are aware, the Lord Himself does not do evil, but since the Lord created everything, including the devil, He is responsible for all that takes place here on earth. Therefore, the Lord answering us by Himself means the Lord takes responsibility for all that takes place here on earth.

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

When we hold on to these idols of the heart, the Lord sets His face against us, and we are cut off from His people. Over the years, many who have separated from us are due to their entrenchment in the idols of their hearts. Our separation from our brothers and sisters in Babylon was due basically to the idols of the heart that they are not prepared to let go. In verse 8, it is through this separation that we are assured of our election as we are given to know more about our Lord.

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing [false doctrines]; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
Eze 14:11  That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD. 

There are several examples of men of God that were deceived and ended up being destroyed from the midst of the Lord’s people. In other words, they became spiritually dead and therefore cut off from the Lord’s people. For example, Nadab and Abihu were deceived into thinking they can offer any kind of sacrifice to the Lord without any consequence. As a result, they were destroyed by the Lord from His people.

Lev 10:1  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 
Lev 10:2  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Just as Jacob was deceived into thinking that he was marrying the love of his life (Rachel) and ended up marrying Leah, who represents Babylon, so we were deceived when we embraced Babylon as the true bride and took in all her false doctrines. At that time, we were cut off from the Lord’s elect because we were spiritually dead until the Lord intervened by coming to us with His fiery words.

In verse 10, the Lord is saying that our judgment will surely come without fail, whether we were the propagators of false doctrines or followers of those who preach false doctrines. In verse 11, we are being told that the reason we are to bear the punishment of our iniquity is that it is through this process of judgment that we do not go astray from the Lord and therefore become obedient children of the Lord. That is when we become the Lord’s people, and He becomes our God. Our becoming the Lord’s people is therefore contingent on the false doctrines in our hearts and minds being destroyed through the Lord’s judgment of our old man. 

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The unclean thing in 2 Corinthians 6:17 refers to these idols of the heart or false doctrines in our heavens.

The LORD Will Judge Jerusalem

Eze 14:12  The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 
Eze 14:13  Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: 
Eze 14:14  Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. 

When we go astray by sinning against the Lord, there are always consequences, or judgment, if we are called and chosen. Through the false teaching we hear in the churches of this world, we come to see the Lord’s judgment as a punitive action taken by the Lord which does not result in any correction. However, judgment is a loving way that the Lord uses to make His children learn righteousness.

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 

Isa 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

In verse 13, the Lord uses famine to destroy both man and beast. This verse also confirms that the Lord’s use of judgment is to destroy the old man or the beast within His elect.

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Famine as one of the four sore judgments of the Lord means absence of the truth of the word of the Lord which makes us worse off as we wander from sea to sea. 

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 
Amo 8:13  In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. 

It is through famine of the word of the Lord that facilitated our exit from Babylon and caused us to come to treasure the truth of the word of the Lord. The fact that three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were mentioned in verse 14 is to let us know that our process of becoming spiritually mature is through the Lord’s judgment. Noah, Daniel and Job here represent the Lord’s elect of every generation who are privileged to be judged in this life. The fact that these righteous men can only save themselves through the Lord’s judgment suggests that every human being will face judgment. However, those who are being judged here in this life are the Lord’s elect. In a later age, the rest of humanity will also experience the judgment of the Lord. They will be judged by the Lord and His elect.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Eze 14:15  If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
Eze 14:16  Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

The word “noisome” means evil. Thus, we are talking about evil beasts. As we stated earlier, human beings are evil beasts.

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

It is this “evil beast” or mankind, that the Lord is using to judge His elect in this age. Peter speaks of this very same beast, by whom God will judge all men:

2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.
2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you.

It is with “natural brute beasts” that God is at this very moment judging His house, and it is with “natural brute beasts” that He will outwardly judge this world and make the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord, His Christ, who we are.

Again, in verse 16, we are reminded that it is the elect who are being saved through judgment in this age and that every person will face his or her own judgment.

Eze 14:17  Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: 
Eze 14:18  Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

The sword on a positive note means the word of the Lord. 

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The negative aspect of sword refers to words that are spoken which destroy us. The sword refers to the lying words and false doctrines of the adversary. 

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 
2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Psa 64:2  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Psa 64:3  Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

These negative words spoken are one of the tools the Lord uses to cause people to speak bitter words to us, His elect. 

Eze 38:21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

Jdg 7:22 And the three hundred [men with Gideon] blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host [of the Midianites]: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

Eze 14:19  Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: 
Eze 14:20  Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Pestilence comes from the Hebrew word “deber” which means murrain or plague. Murrain means destruction, and the only place the word was used in the Bible was in the fifth plague in Egypt when there was widespread destruction of cattle of the Egyptians.

Exo 9:1  Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 
Exo 9:2  For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, 
Exo 9:3  Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

The Lord uses pestilence when we have gotten far away from Him. For example, when the children of Israel were in Egypt, the Lord used pestilence to get their attention. The Lord’s use of pestilence means that the people of Israel were given over to the devil which in this case was represented by Pharaoh, who caused the people of Israel to be under great affliction.

Lev 26:25  And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Exo 1:8  Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 

Exo 1:11  Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 

Exo 1:14  And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in the  morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Exo 3:7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

When the Lord got the people of Israel’s attention, He came to help them as the people drew closer to the Lord. Today, the Lord still uses pestilence to get our attention when we have drifted far from Him. For example, in the Corinthian church, Paul gave over the man who slept with his father’s wife to the devil so that he may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

Eze 14:21  For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? 

Here in verse 21, the tools the Lord is using to judge us are listed. The number four means the whole of the matter under discussion, and in this case, we are dealing with judgment. Thus, the whole of the Lord’s tools that He is using to accomplish His purpose of judgment are the sword, famine, noisome beast and pestilence.

Eze 14:22  Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
Eze 14:23  And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD. 

In spite of the experience of evil that the Lord was unleashing on Jerusalem, He assured them that a remnant shall be brought forth whose conduct and actions will justify His actions. As indicated, the end result of the Lord’s judgment of our old man is that we come to know that the Lord’s way is perfect. In other words, through all the fiery trials we go through, we come to appreciate the way or the path that the Lord has chosen for us. 

Psa 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Psa 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 

May His name be praised. Amen!!