• “See the Evil, Detestable Things That They Are Doing”
    Pure Worship of Jehovah—Restored At Last!

    • Second Scene: 70 Elders Offering Incense to False Gods

      Ezekiel looking into the inner courtyard of the temple, where elders are offering incense to representations of false gods, carved on the wall.

      11. What disturbing things did Ezekiel see after entering the inner courtyard near the temple altar?

      11 Read Ezekiel 8:7-12. Boring through a wall and entering the inner courtyard near the temple altar, Ezekiel now saw disturbing wall carvings of “creeping things and loathsome beasts and all the disgusting idols.”c Those wall carvings represented false gods. Even more disturbing is what Ezekiel saw next: “70 of the elders of the house of Israel” were standing “in the darkness” and offering incense to the false gods. Under the Law, the burning of sweet-smelling incense represented the acceptable prayers offered up by faithful worshippers. (Ps. 141:2) However, the incense that those 70 elders offered up to false gods was an unholy stench to Jehovah. Their prayers were like an offensive odor to him. (Prov. 15:8) Those elders fooled themselves into thinking: “Jehovah is not seeing us.” But Jehovah did see them, and he showed Ezekiel exactly what they were doing in His temple!

      Seventy elders offering incense to representations of false gods, carved on the wall.

      Jehovah sees every detestable thing that is done “in the darkness” (See paragraph 11)

      12. Why must we remain faithful even “in the darkness,” and who especially should set a good example in this regard?

      12 What can we learn from Ezekiel’s account of those 70 Israelite elders who offered incense to false gods? For our prayers to be heard by God​—and to keep our worship pure in his eyes—​we must remain faithful even “in the darkness.” (Prov. 15:29) Let us keep in mind that Jehovah’s all-seeing eyes are ever upon us. If Jehovah is real to us, we will not do anything in private that we know is displeasing to him. (Heb. 4:13) Especially must congregation elders set a good example in Christian living. (1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Those in the congregation rightly expect that an elder who stands before them and leads them in worship at a meeting is living by Bible principles even “in the darkness,” that is, when others may not see him.​—Ps. 101:2, 3.