What does "sanctified themselves" teach about preparation for worship today? The Historical Snapshot 2 Chronicles 29:15 reports, “When they had assembled their brothers and sanctified themselves, they went in to purify the house of the LORD according to the commandment of the king, in accordance with the words of the LORD.” The phrase “sanctified themselves” describes priests who: • washed themselves and their garments • abstained from anything ceremonially defiling • devoted themselves afresh to God’s service Only after that did they enter the temple to lead worship. What Sanctification Meant Then • Separation: stepping away from common pursuits to focus wholly on the LORD (Leviticus 20:7–8). • Cleansing: ritual washing pointed to moral purity (Exodus 19:10). • Dedication: renewed pledge of loyalty to God’s covenant (1 Chronicles 15:12-14). Principles for Today: Preparing to Worship • God still calls His people to approach Him with clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24:3-4). • External preparation was a shadow; Christ supplies the inward reality, yet the call to holiness remains (Hebrews 10:22). • Personal responsibility is highlighted: “they sanctified themselves.” No one else can do my heart-work for me (2 Corinthians 7:1). Practical Steps for Personal Preparation • Examine: invite the Spirit to search the heart (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess: agree with God about sin and receive cleansing (1 John 1:9). • Reconcile: settle relational conflicts before gathering (Matthew 5:23-24). • Refocus: silence distractions, plan ahead, arrive early, bring a ready mind (Colossians 3:2). • Consecrate: remind yourself that Sunday is the Lord’s Day, not merely another activity slot (Isaiah 58:13-14). Congregational Implications • Leaders model holiness—priests “sanctified themselves” before guiding others; pastors and musicians today follow suit (1 Timothy 4:12-16). • Corporate elements such as Scripture reading, confession, and Christ-centered songs help the whole body “sanctify” together (Ephesians 5:19-20). • A clean, orderly meeting space underscores reverence, mirroring the temple cleansing (2 Chronicles 29:16-18). Final Encouragement Because we are “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), every believer shares the privilege and duty of sanctifying himself or herself before entering worship. Through Christ our High Priest we have full access; through deliberate preparation we honor that access, presenting ourselves “as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). |
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