Ashes of Lent

Ezekiel 9:4 "And the Lord said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations (detestable things) that are committed in it."

This morning as I waited for my bus, I came across the above verse in my shameful rush to get through a couple Ezekiel chapters. I didn't end up getting past this verse, and no, it wasn't because my bus came.

The parallel of this verse with the tradition of today, Ash Wednesday, had me in awe. I have been looking and praying for the Lord to reveal to me what Lent is truly about, and what He wants lent to be truly about for me personally, and for His people corporately. This verse and those preceding brought clarity. We put marks of ash on our foreheads today as a sign of recognition of who God is and repentance of who we are. We recognize God as Provider, as Here, as Creator, and mostly, as Worthy.

In the passages leading up to verse 9:4, Ezekiel is chosen as a prophet by God to proclaim God's words upon His people. A people that have turned their backs towards God, ignored His commands, and brought matters into their own hands because of their lack of faith in His presence, His timing, and His provision.

Chapter 8 has the Lord leading Ezekiel into the innermost courts of Jerusalem, God's chosen holy city. The "idol that provokes jealousy" is pointed out to Ezekiel as he is told that he will witness worse abominations yet. He is then instructed to dig through a hole into the inner courts of the city. Once inside he sees images that suggest evil's presence: "And there engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. (8:10)" Also inside, he sees the 70 elders of Israel, the supposed reverent and religious leaders of God's chosen people. And what are they doing? They are not seeking God's counsel, nor praying. Instead, they are worshiping. They are worshiping: "Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising…Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? (8:11-12)"

In the darkness, each of these leaders were worshiping their own private idols, their own secret sins. They were not trusting God who had given them their position or responsibility, the God who had given breathe to their lungs. Instead they were adding to the "idol that provokes jealousy" (a literary image more so than a literal one I believe) by doubting God's promises and His presence in the land. Verse 12 goes on to say: "They say, 'The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.'" God's response: "You will see them doing things that are even more detestable. (8:13)"

Doubt of God's presence is a detestable thing to Him. Doubt of His provision, doubt of His listening ear. Dependence on self, dependence on secret sins or coping mechanisms or unworthy trusts, those are all detestable things to Him.

As I enter this Lent season, I have been convicted; convicted to examine my own life more carefully. What censer am I holding in my hand walking around in darkness worshiping? What am I trusting in to get me through each decision, each thought, each day? What idol do I have that provokes the Lord's jealousy? And, most importantly, how am I going to respond?

Asking these questions, seeking His counsel and guidance, will bring to light the nasty unwanted, and yet necessary, answers. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)"

As we celebrate Lent, as we partake in the ashes today, as we recognize who God is and who we are, let us also respond. Respond by asking ourselves what "idol that provokes jealousy" we should be conscious of in this season and eliminate it from our habits for the next 40 days, and hopefully more. Whether it be food, or time, or dependence, or independence; let's sigh and groan as we change.

Romans 8:5 "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."