Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: The Sanctuary
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In the context of the Old Testament, the concept of defilement is closely associated with the holiness and sanctity of the sanctuary, which was the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. The sanctuary, comprising the Tabernacle in the wilderness and later the Temple in Jerusalem, was central to Israel's worship and religious life. It was imperative that the sanctuary remain pure and undefiled, as it symbolized God's holiness and His covenant relationship with Israel.

Biblical Basis for the Sanctuary's Sanctity

The sanctuary was considered holy because it was where God chose to manifest His presence. In Exodus 25:8, God commands, "And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them." The holiness of the sanctuary required that it be kept free from any form of impurity or defilement. This was not merely a matter of ritual but was deeply connected to the moral and spiritual purity that God demanded from His people.

Sources of Defilement

Several sources of defilement could affect the sanctuary, necessitating specific rituals for purification:

1. Sin and Transgression: The sins of the people could defile the sanctuary. Leviticus 16:16 states, "In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites, whatever their sins may have been." The Day of Atonement was instituted to cleanse the sanctuary from the accumulated sins of the people.

2. Contact with Death: The presence of death was a significant source of impurity. Numbers 19:13 warns, "Anyone who touches a dead body and fails to purify himself defiles the LORD’s tabernacle." The defilement from death required specific purification rituals, including the use of the ashes of a red heifer.

3. Bodily Discharges: Leviticus 15 outlines various bodily discharges that could render a person ceremonially unclean, thereby defiling the sanctuary if they entered it in that state. Verses 31-32 emphasize, "You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling My dwelling place, which is among them."

4. Idolatry and False Worship: The introduction of idolatry or false worship practices was a grave defilement of the sanctuary. Ezekiel 5:11 declares, "Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable practices and abominations, I Myself will withdraw."

Rituals for Purification

To address defilement, the Old Testament prescribes various rituals and sacrifices to restore the sanctuary's holiness:

· Sacrifices and Offerings: Regular sacrifices, such as burnt offerings and sin offerings, were made to atone for the sins of the people and maintain the sanctuary's purity (Leviticus 1-7).

· The Day of Atonement: This annual event was crucial for the purification of the sanctuary. The high priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for himself, the sanctuary, and the people (Leviticus 16).

· Purification Rituals: Specific rituals, such as the sprinkling of blood and the use of water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer, were employed to cleanse individuals and objects that had become defiled (Numbers 19).

Theological Significance

The stringent requirements for maintaining the sanctuary's purity underscore the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. The defilement of the sanctuary was not merely a breach of ritual but a violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The New Testament echoes this theme, emphasizing that believers are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, called to live lives of holiness and purity (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

In summary, the defilement of the sanctuary in the Old Testament highlights the need for atonement and purification, pointing ultimately to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who cleanses believers from all sin and impurity.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Leviticus 20:3
And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he has given of his seed to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Zephaniah 3:4
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Resources
What does the Bible say about defilement? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Daniel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about consecration? | GotQuestions.org

Defilement: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Defilement

Defilement Defile

Defilement of Priests

Defilement of Sin

Defilement of Unholy Doctrines

Defilement: Caused by Childbirth

Defilement: Caused by Copulation

Defilement: Caused by Gonorrhea

Defilement: Caused by Killing in Battle

Defilement: Caused by Leprosy

Defilement: Caused by Menses

Defilement: Caused by Spermatorrhea

Defilement: Caused by Touching Carcass of an Unclean Thing

Defilement: Caused by Touching the Carcass of Any Ceremonially Unclean Animal

Defilement: Caused by Touching the Dead

Defilement: Causes of, Improperly Enlarged by Tradition

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Being Alone With a Dead Body

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Burning the Red Heifer

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Child Bearing

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Eating Things That Died

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Eating Unclean Things

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Gathering the Ashes of the Red Heifer

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Going Into a Leprous House

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Having a Leprosy

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Having an Issue

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Mourning for the Dead

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Sacrificing the Red Heifer

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Touching a Dead Beast

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Touching a Dead Body or a Bone

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Touching a Grave

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Touching an Unclean Person

Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Touching Anything Defiled by an Issue

Defilement: Ceremonial, Abolished Under the Gospel

Defilement: Cleansed by Legal offerings

Defilement: Contact With Sinners Falsely Supposed to Cause

Defilement: Egyptian Usage, Concerning

Defilement: Forbidden to the Jews

Defilement: Laws Relating To

Defilement: Moral, Caused by Blood Shedding

Defilement: Moral, Caused by Following the Sins of the Heathen

Defilement: Moral, Caused by Giving Children to Molech

Defilement: Moral, Caused by Making and Serving Idols

Defilement: Moral, Caused by Seeking After Wizards

Defilement: Moral, Punished

Defilement: Neglecting Purification From, Punished by Cutting off

Defilement: Priests: Not to Eat Holy Things While Under

Defilement: Priests: Punished for Eating of the Holy Things While Under

Defilement: Priests: Specially Required to Avoid

Defilement: Priests: To Decide in all Cases of

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: Furniture

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: Garments

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: Houses

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: The Land

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: The Person

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: The Sanctuary

Defilement: Those Under, Removed from the Camp

Related Terms

Defile (63 Occurrences)

Purify (39 Occurrences)

Cleanse (75 Occurrences)

Purge (35 Occurrences)

Clean (298 Occurrences)

Impurity (42 Occurrences)

Uncleanness (56 Occurrences)

Foot (193 Occurrences)

Nazarite (8 Occurrences)

Outwardly (7 Occurrences)

Or (15123 Occurrences)

Gehenna (12 Occurrences)

Godless (31 Occurrences)

Fair (147 Occurrences)

Temples (17 Occurrences)

Totemism

Rail (8 Occurrences)

Revile (28 Occurrences)

Robbers (21 Occurrences)

Reverence (42 Occurrences)

Escaped (94 Occurrences)

Entangled (11 Occurrences)

Dominion (72 Occurrences)

Daring (5 Occurrences)

Defiles (12 Occurrences)

Despise (64 Occurrences)

Defiledst (1 Occurrence)

Defilements (1 Occurrence)

Dignitaries (3 Occurrences)

Defiling (10 Occurrences)

Morn (8 Occurrences)

Majesties (2 Occurrences)

Material (61 Occurrences)

Polluting (8 Occurrences)

Pollute (42 Occurrences)

Promises (35 Occurrences)

Purification (25 Occurrences)

Pure (160 Occurrences)

Perfecting (5 Occurrences)

Pollution (5 Occurrences)

Bier (3 Occurrences)

Corpse (18 Occurrences)

Contamination (3 Occurrences)

Contracted (2 Occurrences)

Corresponding (17 Occurrences)

Contaminates (1 Occurrence)

Craving (19 Occurrences)

Ceremonially (38 Occurrences)

Clear (641 Occurrences)

Corresponds (2 Occurrences)

Cheek (9 Occurrences)

Caiaphas's (1 Occurrence)

Cheekbone (1 Occurrence)

Chiefly (5 Occurrences)

Celestial (3 Occurrences)

Ceremonial (11 Occurrences)

Ablution

Angelic (6 Occurrences)

Arrogant (60 Occurrences)

Spittle (3 Occurrences)

Secure (78 Occurrences)

Sick (117 Occurrences)

Spit (15 Occurrences)

Stuck (7 Occurrences)

Shechem (61 Occurrences)

Savior (60 Occurrences)

Red (124 Occurrences)

Shedding (23 Occurrences)

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Burial (25 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Sickness (40 Occurrences)

Corruption (37 Occurrences)

Worse (62 Occurrences)

Asmoneans

Step (41 Occurrences)

Overcome (300 Occurrences)

Plagues (28 Occurrences)

Passion (82 Occurrences)

Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: The Person
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