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The Many Faces of Idolatry

Dr. Stephen Streett | Ezekiel 8:1-18 | March 4, 2026

“The human mind is, so to speak, a perpetual forge of idols.” -John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

Ezekiel 8:1-6

When Ezekiel has this second vision (592 BC), he was sitting at home with the elders of Judah. These were the leaders of the people in exile at that time. In a best-case scenario, they would have been leading God’s people to repent of their sin and trust God in faith. As we will see, it was a worst-case scenario.

Take a moment to consider your own heart. What do you love more than God? What do you chase harder than him? What do you find pleasure in more than Him?

Ezekiel 8:7-13

“The court” here means the court of the Temple. Ezekiel digs through the wall and finds a door. Rather than leading to devoted worshippers of God, it leads to more sin.

Here are two common justifications for sin we all struggle with. First, we tell ourselves no one sees us. We pretend that God doesn’t see us. Second, we let despair drive our decision making. We tell ourselves, “God doesn’t care about me,” but he does more than we know.

Ezekiel 8:14-15

The principle at work is we believe we have to be rich to be happy. We think we have to provide for ourselves. But God had always provided for Israel, and he promised to always provide for them. He makes the same promises to us, but just like Israel we often worship the latest idol that we think will give us wealth.

At last God brings Ezekiel to the last stop on his tour of idolatry in Jerusalem. This is most shocking to Ezekiel and the most offensive to God.

Ezekiel 8:16-18

In the Temple proper Ezekiel saw twenty-five men worshipping the sun instead of God. The blasphemy could not be more clear. They were worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. They had rejected God for the sun he created.

What if God gave you a tour of your idols? Where would he take you? What would he show you? Think of it this way: what is your most important pursuit? What do you believe will bring you the greatest happiness or joy? When you are frustrated or discouraged, where do you go for comfort?

Verse 1

Remember those walls that we called sin and shame, They were like prisons that we couldn’t escape But He came and He died and He rose, Those walls are rubble now Remember those giants we called death and grave, They were like mountains that stood in our way But He came and He died and He rose, Those giants are dead now

Chorus

This is our God this is who He is, He loves us This is our God this is what He does, He saves us He bore the cross beat the grave, Let heaven and earth proclaim This is our God King Jesus

Verse 2

Remember that fear that took our breath away, Faith so weak that we could barely pray But He heard every word every whisper, Now those altars in the wilderness Tell the story of His faithfulness, Never once did He fail and He never will

Bridge

Who pulled me out of that pit - He did He did Who paid for all of our sin, Nobody but Jesus Who rescued me from that grave - Yahweh Yahweh Who gets the glory and praise, Nobody but Jesus

Brandon Lake, Pat Barrett, Phil Wickham, Steven Furtick

CCLI License #38174

Reckless Love

Verse 1

Before I spoke a word You were singing over me, You have been so so good to me Before I took a breath You breathed Your life in me, You have been so so kind to me

Chorus

O the overwhelming never-ending reckless Love of God O it chases me down fights ‘til I’m found, Leaves the ninety-nine I couldn’t earn it I don’t deserve it, Still You give Yourself away O the overwhelming never-ending reckless, Love of God

Verse 2

When I was Your foe still Your love fought for me, You have been so so good to me When I felt no worth You paid it all for me, You have been so so kind to me

Bridge

There’s no shadow You won’t light up, Mountain You won’t climb up Coming after me, There’s no wall You won’t kick down Lie You won’t tear down, Coming after me

Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson

CCLI License #38174