It is the following year from Ezekiel’s first vision of the Lord seated on a throne carried by the four living creatures on wheels (1 v4ff). In this new vision Ezekiel encounters a glorious form of someone who appeared in the form of a man (v2). This clearly is the One on the throne in the first vision (1 v26-28). Wonderfully in love this glorious being holds out a hand to Ezekiel.

It appears that Ezekiel is lifted by his hair and taken to see the temple in Jerusalem (v3) where the glory of the Lor dis present (v4). The purpose of this vision is to show Ezekiel what abominations are taking place in the temple, which were so abominable to the Lord, it would drive Him far from the temple (v6). We need to be warned, idolatry drives the Lord away from us.

Ezekiel is shown in the temple court what is called an image of jealousy (v5). We must remember the Lord is a jealous God who takes receiving the worship He deserves very seriously.

Ezekiel is told to dig through the temple wall (v8) to see what is inside and he sees the form of ‘creeping things and loathsome beasts’ engraved on the walls (v10). Even more shocking was that the elders were engaged in worshipping these things in the dark, thinking somehow the Lord would not notice (v11-12). Their were also women worshipping the false god Tammuz (v14) and men worshipping the rising sun (v16). God will judge this sin (v18).