Wednesday’s Words
Posted by: balderman <balderman@...>
Wednesday’s Words
SANCTUARY
Sanctuary - miqdash (mik-dawsh'); a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum
The sanctuary is a Holy Place set apart for the worship of God or for the refuge from danger. The sanctuary is a place of safety and acceptance for all who would come to God seeking safety.
Israel first used a portable sanctuary tent called the Tabernacle. This is where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. King David planned the Temple in Jerusalem and it was built by his son Solomon. This provided a more permanent and central place of worship. The building is made into a true sanctuary by the presence of God in it. God must inhabit the temple.
When the Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C., during the 19th year of King Nebuchadnezzars reign. (2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52). Sacrifices had ceased, worship had ended and the Glory of God departed. (Ezekiel chapters 8 through 11)
The temple was rebuilt in 515 B.C. but scripture does not record the Glory of God ever re-inhabited the second temple. This marked a dark time of Israel – a turn to religion as their god in opposition to turning to God for their religion.
God had left the temple a dark vacant shell of the past. Israel had rejected Him and He had left – step by step. Now they were functioning on works of the flesh and not the Grace of God.
What a sad commentary on the world and on God’s people. The Shekinah Glory of God had left, the temple was desolate and the Old Testament ended with the promise of a coming curse…400 years with no recorded prophecy or Word from God. The only hope that was available came from Ezekiel chapter 11:14-17 “Then this message came to me from the LORD: "Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about their relatives in exile, saying, 'They are far away from the LORD, so now he has given their land to us!' Therefore, give the exiles this message from the Sovereign LORD: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. I, the Sovereign LORD, will gather you back from the nations where you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.”
Today we have hope through Jesus Christ. The Light, the Shekinah Glory of God has returned in the presence of His Son. John 1:4-5 “Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (NLT)
God has sent His presence back to the world that had become so dark because of its sin. God made His Glory available to us personally and individually. We no longer need a priest or a temple; we need a personal relationship with the Living God that is only available by grace through faith in Christ.
We have are a SANCTUARY in us. Paul called us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. We no longer needed a dead sacrifice – we are to die to our self and live in Jesus. We worship God and Love God with everything He has given us. We find peace and safety in Him and nowhere else. He IS peace! He IS Asylum! We come to Him and find acceptance, restoration and life.
We must be continually watchful because our sin desecrates our temple, our sanctuary, just as it did the Temple of Jerusalem all those years ago.
Our churches today should be reflections of Jesus. A place where the broken, the battered and the bruised can feel accepted and receive the love and reclamation of God in their lives.
Churches are not “sitting rooms” or country clubs for the well; they are hospitals for the sick and needy.
