Detestable things in the temple of God. Ezekiel 8, 9 and 2 Corinthians 6: 14-18

I opened these accounts separately in the same day, telling me about the same thing with my devotional and bible, coincidence who knows. Something had been plaguing me, so I realized it is not about me, I had somehow made it into being about the things I wanted above what God wanted.

Ezekiel 8 gives us a big picture of how all parts of the temple looks like the external temple (the church – the one we see), inner temple (our bodies – individual members), and the entrance to the temple (the heart of the church and believers) which was evaded in Ezekiel 8. First the idolatry spread doing detestable things in the sanctuary, then they were convinced “the lord did not see them, and the lord had forsaken the Land” (External Temple – the church). Then they did things in secret and said surely the Lord will not see it (Internal – the body), and then the glory of God departed from the temple, Ezekiel 10 (Entrance – the heart).

Excerpts W.F Kumuyi’s Devotional titled the Danger of Compromise

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6: 14

Neville Chamberlain was known for this policy of appeasement. As the prime minister of Britain before the World War II, he knew the country was still weary from the First World War and wanted to avoid a European war at all costs. The problem was that at the same time Hitler and his army. So, in September of 1938, he reached an agreement with Hitler that resulted in the Munich Pact. Italy and France joined Britain in agreeing to surrender parts of Czechoslovakia to Germany in return for Hitler’s agreement not to invade any other European country. Chamberlain confidentially came home proclaiming, “Peace in our time.”

They really believed that by giving INTO Hitlers demands, he would stop or limit his aggression. But Hitler arrogantly ignored the pact, taking most of Czechoslovakia and invading Poland. The Munich Pact is now a universal symbol of the failure of the policy of appeasement.

Today’s text calls believers to avoid sinful compromise with unbelievers. Spiritually, the believer and the unbeliever are so different that they should no longer be yoked together in intimate relationships or fellowship. Any comprise between them in marriage, fellowship, partnership or intimate friendship is bound to have dire consequences.

Compromising your faith as a believer can be very dangerous. The Scripture warns us to avoid compromise in all matters especially in marriage, business partnership and worship. The example Jehoshaphat and Solomon remind us of the sad end of compromise with unbelievers (1 Kings 11: 1-6, 2 Chronicles 20: 35-37)

2 Corinthians 6: 14 gives us another warning to avoid idolatry, not to be yoked together with unbelievers because righteousness and wickedness have nothing in common. What harmony is there between Christ and Belial or what does a believer have in common with a non-believer, what agreement between God’s temple and IDOLs as in Ezekiel 8, 9.

The Lord lives with US and walk among us, and I will be my God and I your people, come out of them and be separate (Revelation 18 vs 4, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Ezekiel 9: 4). Touch no unclean thing and you will receive me. I will be a Father to your sons and daughters saith the LORD Almighty.

Summary

The External temple – the church is destroyed by detestable practices and shrines to idols, internally – the body of Christ (individuals) it is destroyed by what it worships, and entrance to the heart is where we mourn to ungodly desires – the two women and Tammuz (golden idol – money). Be dead to the world and its ungodly systems.

Have you gone into compromise consciously or unconsciously? Then it is not too late to come out from the dangerous relationship stands from Christ and holiness.

His glory first fills the HOUSE then the TEMPLE (the body) – then HEART (changing individual hearts) – Worship to the Lord.

The holies of holies have 3 compartments – the house, the body, and the heart are changed through worship. In a worship arena where musician sings it takes the same direction.

Fun Facts

The only time Jesus got angry and acted upon it was when he was in the temple, where he saw them buying and selling. Matthew 21:12-17, people say why was Jesus angry it was Just selling; And I am like you are man, if you see your wife sleeping with a man or whoring would you remain calm when her body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT) is defiled. Luckily, when Jesus realized he was born under the law and born of a woman under the law (Galatians 4:4), he calmed down. Also, he was stripped of his glory, and took on the nature of a bond servant, by becoming like a man. It’s interesting to see a bond servant is under bondage of the law and has no authority because he has not fulfilled the law, and a servant has no rights nor authority Philippians 2: 7-21. When the Pharisees asked him what authority he had to throw those things out, Jesus came back to himself; understanding he had no authority at that time; he said he’d build the temple back in 3 days; fulfilling the scripture the zeal of my father’s house consumed me. Psalm 69: 9, hence where the insight for 1 Peter 2:18-3:7 came from.

The house of the lord (The church), The temple of the lord (the bodies in the church).

1 Corinthians 6: 4

 ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.