Ezekiel was appalled to see the sin of Israel that saturated the centre of spiritual life, the temple, and private, family, and public spheres. Ezekiel was in Babylon among the immigrants. On 17 September 592 BC, elders of Israel came to meet him. Ezekiel was held by the lock of his hair and carried to Jerusalem where he could observe four abominations. Ezekiel was a priest and was familiar with the Temple in Jerusalem.
1) Spiritual space: The Temple of Jerusalem was the sacred place where people who did not believe in Judaism were allowed. The Most Holy Place was veiled and only once in a year, the Chief Priest goes in with full preparation and also a chain tied to pull him out if he falls dead because of sin. No other person is allowed inside. Ezekiel could not discern the glorious presence of God, instead was an Image of jealousy. (Ezekiel 8:5-6) Glory of God and an idol cannot coexist. Sadly, an altar for that image and people sacrificed their children there. Human sacrifice is an abomination to God, and they dared to sacrifice their children.
2) Private space: God showed all the seventy elders including Jaazaniah were worshiping several images – creeping things, wild beasts in a secret chamber. (Ezekiel 8:7-12) That showed their private life, thought life, imaginations, intentions were all corrupted with falsehood.
3) Family space: Women weeping for Tammuz was the next abomination. (Ezekiel 8:13-14) It was a Mesopotamian goddess, the mourning or weeping worship to her included ritual sex. The women were led astray which destabilizes family units in Israel.
4) Public space: Twenty-five men, a division of priests of twenty-four along with the High priest were worshiping the sun as the next scene. (I Chronicles 23; Ezekiel 8:15,16) Probably, there was a horse chariot for sun god, encouraged by Manasseh. (II Kings 23:5,11) Sun is created to give light and it cannot be an object of worship. Turning their backs towards the creator, they worshipped the sun, about which God had warned against. (Deuteronomy 4:19)
Do I repent and turn towards Him to worship?