Definition: Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 8:12. It's a really thought-provoking and slightly unsettling passage about how people think about God. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: Ezekiel is saying that people are so focused on their own ideas, fantasies, and imaginations – they’re seeing God as something separate from them – that they're not really seeing Him. They're creating their own worlds of belief, and it's making them miss the real, present God. Let's unpack it piece by piece: "Ezekiel 8:12" : This tells us who is speaking - Ezekiel, a prophet in ancient Israel. “Then said he unto me, Son of man” : He’s addressing someone – likely a leader or a person of importance – and calling himself “Son of Man.” “Hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark?” This is the key question. "The ancients" refers to older generations of Israelites, people who had been taught by Moses and the prophets. They were likely focused on a distant past and their own interpretations. “Every man in the chambers of his imagery?” : This is where it gets interesting. “Chambers” means a space or room – a dwelling place. The phrase "imagery" means imagining, picturing, or creating something in your mind. So, this means people are imagining God's presence, His power, and His plan. They’re building their own visions of how He should act. “for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.” This is the crucial part. The people are saying, "God doesn’t really see us! God has abandoned the Earth!" They're suggesting that God isn’t involved in their lives or in the world around them. They're believing that He's distant and uninvolved. What it means – The Big Picture: Ezekiel is warning against a dangerous tendency: to create your own separate reality where God is not present. It’s about an overreliance on personal imagination rather than trusting in God’s active presence and guidance. It suggests that people might be so preoccupied with their own thoughts and desires that they are missing out on the real, loving relationship with God. In essence, it’s a reminder to: Focus on what God has revealed through Scripture. Trust in His plan for our lives. Seek Him through prayer and genuine connection. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific story or theme in the Bible? Discuss its significance within the context of Ezekiel’s message?