Topical Bible: Forsaking God is Forsaking: His House

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In the biblical narrative, the concept of forsaking God is intricately linked with the forsaking of His house, which is often understood as the temple or the place of worship. This theme is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the spiritual and communal consequences of turning away from God and neglecting His dwelling place.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament frequently addresses the issue of Israel forsaking God and, consequently, His house. The temple in Jerusalem was the central place of worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. When the Israelites turned to idolatry and abandoned the covenant, they also neglected the temple, leading to its desecration and destruction.

In 2 Chronicles 29:6-7, King Hezekiah laments the forsaking of God's house: "For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God. They have forsaken Him; they have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD and turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel."

The prophet Jeremiah also speaks to this issue, warning of the consequences of forsaking God and His house. In Jeremiah 7:9-11, the Lord questions the people: "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, 'We are delivered,' so you can continue to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD."

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the concept of God's house expands beyond the physical temple to include the body of believers, the Church. Forsaking God is seen as neglecting the community of faith and the spiritual temple built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, reminds believers of their identity as God's temple: "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."

The writer of Hebrews exhorts believers not to forsake the assembly, which is an extension of forsaking God's house: "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Spiritual Implications

Forsaking God and His house carries significant spiritual implications. It reflects a heart that has turned away from the covenant relationship with God and a neglect of the communal and worshipful aspects of faith. The Scriptures consistently call believers to remain faithful, to honor God's dwelling place, and to engage actively in the life of the community of faith.

The call to return to God and His house is a recurring theme, urging repentance and a renewed commitment to worship and obedience. The restoration of God's house, whether the physical temple in the Old Testament or the spiritual community in the New Testament, is a sign of renewed faithfulness and divine blessing.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 29:6
For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Why, in the Account of Terah's Emigration, on his Forsaking the ...
... in the Account of Terah's Emigration, on His Forsaking the Chaldeans ... had lapsed from
the piety of his father and ... And their God said to them, that they should ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 13 why in the account.htm

The Foundation of God
... tried, it is precious,"precious to God who laid ... must be utter self-distrust and
forsaking and turning ... upon the true foundation knows that his house is above ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the foundation of god.htm

Prayer and the Word of God (Continued)
... us against "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some
is," but because in God's house, God's chosen minister declares His Word to ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xiii prayer and the word.htm

How we Can Attain Perfection in Each of These Sorts of ...
... we have a habitation from God, a house not made ... like those of whom the Lord speaks
to His Father in ... returned in heart to Egypt; viz., by forsaking God who had ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter vii how we can.htm

Treatise i. On the Unity of the Church.
... brother, despising the bishops, and forsaking God's priests, he ... strives against the
appointment of God, is punished on account of the daring of his temerity by ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise i on the unity.htm

Jesus Announces his Departure.
... And in forsaking all"father and mother, wife and children, home and kindred and ... And
on His part God has many mansions in His house, proclaiming that He ...
/.../viii jesus announces his departure.htm

Of the Grace of God and the Freedom of the Will.
... as He has compared Jerusalem to an adulteress forsaking her husband, He compares
His own love ... For the goodness and love of God, which He ever shows to ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter viii of the grace.htm

Continuation of the Above.
... from his father's house, in order that, by forsaking a small territory, and a weak
family, and an insignificant house, he might inherit the promises of God. ...
/.../chapter x continuation of the above.htm

A Godly Reformation
... fathers' trespass, advancing to the more specific sin of forsaking Him and His house,
and dwelling ... But no man will be God's instrument to make society, the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a godly reformation.htm