7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the court , and when I looked , behold , a hole in the wall . 8 He said to me, "Son of man , now dig through the wall ." So I dug through the wall , and behold , an entrance . 9 And He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here ." 10 So I entered and looked , and behold , every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things , with all the idols of the house of Israel , were carved on the wall all around . 11 Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel , with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising . 12 Then He said to me, "Son of man , do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark , each man in the room of his carved images ? For they say , ' The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land .' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 8:7-12
Commentary on Ezekiel 8:7-12
(Read Ezekiel 8:7-12)
A secret place was, as it were, opened, where the prophet saw creatures painted on the walls, and a number of the elders of Israel worshipped before them. No superiority in worldly matters will preserve men from lust, or idolatries, when they are left to their own deceitful hearts; and those who are soon wearied in the service of God, often grudge no toil nor expense when following their superstitions. When hypocrites screen themselves behind the wall of an outward profession, there is some hole or other left in the wall, something that betrays them to those who look diligently. There is a great deal of secret wickedness in the world. They think themselves out of God's sight. But those are ripe indeed for ruin, who lay the blame of their sins upon the Lord.