Topical Bible: Idolatry: They Who Practise: Defile the Sanctuary of God

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or the elevation of anything above the one true God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, consistently condemned as a grievous sin. Those who engage in idolatry are depicted as defiling the sanctuary of God, a sacred space meant for the worship and glorification of the Lord alone.

The concept of defiling the sanctuary is rooted in the understanding that God's presence dwells in His holy places, whether it be the tabernacle, the temple, or the spiritual temple of the believer's heart. Idolatry, therefore, is not merely a personal sin but an affront to the holiness of God and His dwelling place.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly warned against idolatry. Leviticus 19:30 states, "You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD." This command underscores the importance of maintaining the sanctity of God's dwelling by abstaining from idolatrous practices. The Israelites' failure to heed this warning often led to dire consequences, including exile and destruction.

Ezekiel 5:11 further illustrates the severity of defiling God's sanctuary through idolatry: "Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you." This passage highlights the direct correlation between idolatry and the withdrawal of God's presence and favor, emphasizing the seriousness of such transgressions.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of idolatry in the context of the believer's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 , Paul writes, "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." Here, idolatry is seen as a defilement of the believer's body, which is to be kept pure and holy as a dwelling place for God's Spirit.

The practice of idolatry is not limited to the worship of physical idols but extends to any form of allegiance or devotion that supersedes one's commitment to God. Colossians 3:5 warns believers to "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry." This passage broadens the definition of idolatry to include any earthly desire that takes precedence over one's relationship with God.

Throughout Scripture, the defilement of God's sanctuary through idolatry is met with divine judgment and calls for repentance. The consistent biblical narrative underscores the importance of exclusive devotion to God and the rejection of all forms of idolatry, as the sanctity of God's dwelling place must be preserved.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 5:11
Why, as I live, said the Lord GOD; Surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things, and with all your abominations, therefore will I also diminish you; neither shall my eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Paul's Missionary Labors.
... in the Pastoral Epistles; for they seem to ... in the Roman empire which abandoned idolatry,
and it ... corrupt, so that korinthiazomai means to practise whoredom, and ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 33 pauls missionary labors.htm

A Discourse
... all debauchery, inhumanity, profaneness, superstition, and idolatry,' will be ... would
seek to ravish and defile her ... Thus therefore they are allured, and think to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
... not, and will not, experience and practise it in ... banqueting, money getting, lewdness,
and idolatry, as we ... blessings to their hearers, while they themselves are ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter ii scriptural predictions of.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... they do hear and look on, and practise lesser things ... they made them idols.' The sin
of idolatry threw their ... and stirrings of sin, no more than they can stir ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... or together, as such, is to commit most gross and horrible idolatry: For albeit ...
creatures that the Lord created, were the holy angels of God, they being called ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm