They disregarded God’s holy ordinances and shattered their own spiritual identity in the process.
Ezekiel, a prophet who carried out his ministry among the Jewish exiles in Babylon around 593-571 BC, speaks against the people’s disregard of the sacred things commanded by the LORD. He declares in “You have despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths” (v.8), revealing the depth of disrespect shown towards God’s instructions. Here, the words “holy things” can include the offerings, temple observances, and devoted practices that God had instituted as part of His covenant with Israel. By portraying these holy things as “despised,” Ezekiel underscores the blatant neglect and contempt which the people displayed.
The Sabbath observances held special significance in Israel’s history, dating back to Moses and the giving of the commandments (Exodus 20:8-10). By describing the people’s actions as having “profaned My sabbaths” (v.8), Ezekiel highlights a willful turning away from the revered covenant sign, which served as a remembrance of God’s rest in creation. The Sabbath carried theological weight, reminding Israel to honor and trust in the LORD. When Jesus, in the New Testament, affirms the Sabbath’s purpose (Mark 2:27), it provides a continuity of God’s desire for His people to faithfully recognize His authority and design.
This verse points out the heart-level neglect of God’s majesty, as the people in Ezekiel’s day no longer revered the sacred ordinances. Their irreverence violated what the LORD had intended for their flourishing, drawing them away from His protection and covenant promise. Compounding their internal disregard was the external example set before foreign nations, who witnessed the people’s failure to uphold set-apart practices made to glorify God.
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Ezekiel 22:8 meaning
Ezekiel, a prophet who carried out his ministry among the Jewish exiles in Babylon around 593-571 BC, speaks against the people’s disregard of the sacred things commanded by the LORD. He declares in “You have despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths” (v.8), revealing the depth of disrespect shown towards God’s instructions. Here, the words “holy things” can include the offerings, temple observances, and devoted practices that God had instituted as part of His covenant with Israel. By portraying these holy things as “despised,” Ezekiel underscores the blatant neglect and contempt which the people displayed.
The Sabbath observances held special significance in Israel’s history, dating back to Moses and the giving of the commandments (Exodus 20:8-10). By describing the people’s actions as having “profaned My sabbaths” (v.8), Ezekiel highlights a willful turning away from the revered covenant sign, which served as a remembrance of God’s rest in creation. The Sabbath carried theological weight, reminding Israel to honor and trust in the LORD. When Jesus, in the New Testament, affirms the Sabbath’s purpose (Mark 2:27), it provides a continuity of God’s desire for His people to faithfully recognize His authority and design.
This verse points out the heart-level neglect of God’s majesty, as the people in Ezekiel’s day no longer revered the sacred ordinances. Their irreverence violated what the LORD had intended for their flourishing, drawing them away from His protection and covenant promise. Compounding their internal disregard was the external example set before foreign nations, who witnessed the people’s failure to uphold set-apart practices made to glorify God.