Ezekiel 7:20 They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. They made it into vile images; therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them.
Pride has reared its ugly head again in this chapter. God’s people have become proud and vain. They took His abundant blessings and turned them into idols instead of using His blessings for His work and remembering that He is their center. They became self-sufficient money-grubbing social climbers instead of leaning into His goodness.
Ezekiel 7:21 I will give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile it.
God tried many, many different ways to help His people see the error of their pride, but they were so enamored of themselves and their idols (wealth, power, beauty, etc) that they couldn’t even see that their pride had led them so very far away. God knew that if He wanted His people to return to Him—which was the only way for them to truly live a good life—He had to break utterly their stubborn pride so that they could see their way back to Him.
Ezekiel 7:22 I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it.
Lord, I don’t even pretend to understand the way that You work, but I know You love us fiercely and You value our relationship with You. I know pride can rear its ugly head in so many ways, and pride causes us to elevate ourselves and our rights and abilities unnaturally and in an unhealthy way. Help me to keep You at my center. When my pride rears its head, help me humble myself before You. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.
Ezekiel 7:24 I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated.
Have a blessed day.