Finding the Favor of God

Ezekiel 5:11: "Because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestible practices, I myself will withdraw my favor."



Ezekiel was a prophet who lived during the time of God's judgment on the people of Judah, for their brazen rebellion against the Lord (597BC). By the time the passage above was written, God had already sent the Babylonians to invade the land of Palestine. Ezekiel was part of the second wave of exiles of Israel that had been sent into captivity to Babylon; and while in exile, he was summoned by God to communicate to the people in that distant land why God was bringing judgment. God had declared that the people of Judah had been wicked "rebelling against my (God's) laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around" (5:6). Therefore, God decreed that He was against the people of Judah and would inflict punishment upon them for their defiance to His Sovereign Lordship.



One of the manifestations of the people's wickedness was their attitude of contempt for the sanctuary of the LORD. Whereas this had been a place in which God was honored through worship and obedience, the people of Ezekiel's day had placed vile images of false gods in the temple to worship them instead of God. They practiced detestible, immoral acts in the sanctuary as well. God would not be mocked; He declared that He would withdraw His divine favor from the people, and this withdraw resulted in loss of protection and blessing.



We as followers of Jesus Christ would do well to remember this story as a word of direction for us. We know from the New Testament that our bodies are now the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells (I Corinthians 6:19); thus, we must remember that we are to honor the Lord with our very selves. We are to commit our lives fully to worship of the Lord and follow Him in faithful obedience. To turn from this calling and follow after the "idols" that would distract us from focused loyalty to the Lord is to experience the withdraw of God's blessing. If we expect to be blessed by the LORD, we first must be unwavering in our submission to Him as Lord. Rebellion will never be rewarded.