Sanctuary מִקְדָּשׁ

We are in moving into chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today. מִקְדָּשׁ sanctuary, sacred place. It is used 75 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a holy place, a place considered holy or consecrated, often with reference to the tabernacle or temple. Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a מִקְדָּ֑שׁ sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build מִקְדַּשׁ֙ the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house לַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ for the sanctuary; be strong and do it. We also see our word used in the context of corruption or defilement of our word. 2 Chronicles 26:18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” Ezekiel 23:38-39 Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house. This is how our word is used in our chapter. Leviticus 20:3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. The good news is that God can and wants to clean us from our sin. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. This is what Jesus accomplished for us. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And more good news is that wherever God is becomes his sanctuary because of his presence. Because of this the Psalmist praises God. We can meet God in nature that he has made and worship him. Psalm 68:32-35 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God מִֽמִּקְדָּ֫שֶׁ֥יךָ from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! And we can meet God in places of worship where God’s people gather and worship him. I’ll close with these great Psalms that show us how we are changed when we worship God in his presence. Psalm 73:13, 16-17 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence … But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the מִקְדְּשֵׁי sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 96:4-6 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ in his sanctuary.