Published on Sunday, 17 April 2011 15:13 | Written by Administrator | | | Hits: 6296
SEPARATION OF THE HOLY FROM
THE COMMON
Ezekiel’s vision of the temple:
So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall around it, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common Ezekiel 42:20 NIV (bold mine).
He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. Ezekiel 42:20 KJV (bold mine).
The word translated as holy in the NIV and sanctuary in the KJV is qodesh in the Hebrew. According to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance qodesh has the following definition:
qodesh, ko’-desh; from qadash; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstr. sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing),hallowed (thing), holiness, saint, sanctuary..
qadash, kaw-dash’; a prime root; to be (causat. make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): -- appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, repare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self) wholly.
We see, therefore, that the term holy refers to the idea of being dedicated or set apart for a specific purpose and inviolably maintained as separated to that purpose. For purpose of our discussion that which is set apart for the Lord is holy so long as it continues to be set apart for Him. If it is used by or for, or comes into contact with, something or someone else, that is not holy, it becomes defiled.
The word translated as common in the NIV and profane in the KJV is chol in the Hebrew. According to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance chol has the following definition:
chol, khole; from chalal; prop. exposed; hence profane:-- common, profane (place), unholy.
chalal, khaw-lal’; a prime root; prop. to bore, i.e. (by impl.) to wound, to dissolve; fig. toprofane (a person, place or thing), to break (one’s word), tobegin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. from chalahto play (the flute):-- pollute, prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
chalah, khaw-law’; a prime root; prop. to be rubbed or worn; hence (fig.) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causat.) to grieve, make sick,; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat: --beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, (be) grieved, etc.
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines common and profane as follows:
common public, general, 1. belonging equally to, or shared by, everyone or all,
2. belonging or relating to the community at large; public, 3. widely existing; general; prevalent 4. widely but unfavorably known 5. frequent, familiar, usual 6. not of the upper classes; of the masses 7. having no rank 8. below ordinary; inferior 9. not refined; vulgar; low; coarse, etc.
profane before the temple, hence not sacred, common: 1. not connected with religion or religious matters; secular 2. not initiated into the inner mysteries or esoteric knowledge of something 3. not hallowed or consecrated 4. showing disrespect or contempt for sacred things; irreverent --vt. --faned’, -faning 1. to desecrate 2. to put to a base or improper use; debase, defile
We see, therefore, that anything which is not holy, is common or profane. For purpose of our discussion of scriptures anyone or anything not set apart for the Lord was common or profane (unholy).
Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful: you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. Now make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives."Ezra 10:11 NIV (bold mine).
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ’If a man or woman wants make a special vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazarite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazarite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
During the entire period of his vow of separation
no razor may be used on his head. he must be holy until the period of his separation to the Lord is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long.
Throughout the period of his separation to the Lord he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the Lord.
If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing --- the seventh day. Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of a dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. He must dedicate himself to the Lord for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering.
The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation. Numbers 6:1-12 NIV (bold mine).
"‘Now this is the law for the Nazarite when the period of his consecration is over. he is brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. There he is to present his offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old yew lamb without defect for a fellowship offering, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast -- cakes made without yeast -- cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.
The priest is to present them before the Lord and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the Lord, together with its grain offering and drink offering.
Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazarite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. he is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. Numbers 6:13-18 NIV.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote:
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people,"
"Therefore come out from among them and be separate,
says the Lord,
Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV.
We see from the scriptures above that God takes this matter of holiness very seriously. He is a jealous God in the sense that He wants our love, fully, and completely. Just as a husband or wife wants the undivided love of their spouse, not wanting to share it with another lover or have more devotion shown to a place of employment or hobby, God wants to be first in our lives.
Very often people make the mistake of confusing holiness with the concept of a sinless or pious life. This is a mistake. It is true that a person the Lord sees as holy, that is, one who has been set apart by accepting Jesus as their Savior and repenting of their sins, will try to live a life free of sin because of their love for Jesus. They will, however, never be able to live a life as perfect as His -- and anything less is sin. It is for this very reason that Jesus has attributed His righteousness to us. In essence, He has made a deposit to our account paying our debt of sin in full. We are now righteous and sinless BECAUSE HE IS RIGHTEOUS AND SINLESS!
Holiness has more to do with dedication and commitment to a purpose than with sinlessness. As an example let us suppose a woman has a very special set of china that she uses only on very special occasions. One might say, for sake of example, that this is holy china (separated for, or dedicated to a special purpose). Nevertheless, if she uses it for the purpose it is kept for, serving the guests at a special dinner, those dedicated (holy) dishes will become soiled and need to be washed.
Their need for cleansing does not, in itself, change their dedication -- their purpose. Their dedication (holiness) has not changed but their cleanliness has. Even so, it is obvious that if they remained soiled they could no longer be used for their dedicated purpose, so cleanliness (purity/ sanctity) is important. The dishes can, however. be cleaned, and thanks to our Lord's sacrifice, so can we!
If, however, she were to begin using them everyday for other than special occasions, like any other dishes, they would have lost the special dedication. This would be true even if the dishes are standing spotless in the cabinet. We can see, therefore, that what is holy (that is, separated to God’s purposes) remains holy even when soiled through contact with the world in the performance of ministries. Regular cleansing, as for the priests at the Laver, will of course be necessary. That which is common, profane, remains so no matter how clean it may appear, until it is consecrated to the Lord.
This may seem strange to some readers but salvation is based upon relationship - not performance! Many people, even some "christians", believe their good works will earn them a place in "Heaven". Sadly, many are going to be disappointed.
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. --." John 17:3 NIV (bold mine).
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!' Matthew 7:22-23 NIV(bold mine).
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir heir of the world but through righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith has no value, and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. Romans 4:14-15 NIV (bold and underline mine).
But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.Romans 3:21-25 NIV (bold mine).
The sacrifice of atonement was made to re-establish the relationship between God and mankind. Sin (selfish disobedience) created a rift in the relationship that had to be atoned for before the relationship could be restored. Mankind had created the rift through selfishness and disobedience, which is called sin in the scriptures, but only God could mend it.
So too, at the present time is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV (bold mine).
We are saved by faith not by good works. But we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. God wants us to do good works, in fact, He planned things for us to do in advance. So once we have been redeemed we have a responsibility to commit our lives to Him and His service. Not that we are all to be full time ministers, evangelists of missionaries, but there is a job assignment for each of us which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God has shown great love for us in that He would make so great a sacrifice to have a relationship with us. We should, therefore, dedicate ourselves to worship and serve Him.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16-17; NIV.
Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:1-2 NIV (bold mine).
It is God's desire that we should be holy because He is holy and, because He loves us and wants the very best for us. He wants us to grow up spiritually to be like Him so we can be with Him.
Category: Tabernacle
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