Ezekiel 20:27-31: a reflection

27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’ 30“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations? 31When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!

God speaks a hard word to his people, who had persisted in idolatry from the beginning even while coming to him. When they come to inquire of him, to seek his guidance, while still clinging to their idols, God says: Shall I be inquired of by you? As I live, I will not be inquired of by you. God will not be sought, will not give his guidance, to those who come to him while still clinging to the idols he hates. They cannot seek God rightly while holding onto what competes with him.

Notice why God will not be inquired of by them: because they came to him while still clinging to their idols. They wanted God's guidance, but would not put away the idols that rivaled him; they came to seek him with divided hearts, holding onto what he hated even as they sought him. And God says he will not be inquired of thus; he will not be sought by hearts still clinging to their idols. To seek God rightly, we must put away what competes with him, not come to him with divided hearts.

That is a searching word, for we can come to God while still clinging to our own idols, whatever they are, seeking his guidance and blessing while holding onto what rivals him. But God will not be sought rightly by a divided heart; we cannot seek him truly while clinging to what competes with him. When you come to seek God, to inquire of him, do not come clinging to your idols, whatever they are, the things that rival God for your heart; put them away, that you may seek him with an undivided heart. God will not be inquired of by hearts still holding onto their idols; to seek him rightly, we must let go of what competes with him. Do not seek God with a divided heart, clinging to your idols even as you come to him; put away what rivals him, and seek him with your whole heart, for he will not be sought rightly by those who cling to their idols even as they inquire of him. Let go of your idols, and seek God with an undivided heart.

Lord, you spoke a hard word to your people, who persisted in idolatry even while coming to you: when they came to inquire of you while still clinging to their idols, you said, shall I be inquired of by you? I will not be inquired of by you. You will not be sought by those who come clinging to the idols you hate. Show me why: they came to you while still clinging to their idols, seeking your guidance with divided hearts, holding onto what you hated even as they sought you. To seek you rightly, I must put away what competes with you. Let that searching word reach me, for I can come to you while still clinging to my own idols, whatever they are, seeking your guidance and blessing while holding onto what rivals you. But you will not be sought rightly by a divided heart; I cannot seek you truly while clinging to what competes with you. When I come to seek you, keep me from coming clinging to my idols, the things that rival you for my heart; help me put them away, that I may seek you with an undivided heart. You will not be inquired of by hearts still holding onto their idols; to seek you rightly, I must let go of what competes with you. Help me let go of my idols, Lord, and seek you with my whole heart, rather than coming to you divided. Give me an undivided heart to seek you.