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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 254

"They have defiled My sanctuary"

Text: Ezekiel 23:38

THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

King David loved the Lord and His House. He stored a huge amount of funds to support the building of a magnificent sanctuary. It took seven years for Solomon to complete the building of the Temple (1 Kings 6:38). The Temple was then humbly dedicated by Solomon (2 Chronicles 6).

When later kings abandoned the Lord, the Temple wad neglected. Worse, it was terribly defiled.

“Moreover they have done this to Me:
They have defiled My sanctuary on the same day
and profaned My Sabbaths.
For after they had slain their children for their idols,
on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it;
and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house.”
Ezekiel 23:38-39

1. God took the neglect of His House personally.

a) Though God did not physically dwell in the Temple, it was still His House.

b) The sins of Judah offended God greatly.

2. With specific reference to God’s House.

a) Judah had “defiled” His sanctuary.

i) The leaders had set up idols in the Temple.

ii) This was an abomination to God.

iii) He called this defilement of His sanctuary.

b) The Sabbath

i) The Sabbath was meant to be kept by Israel faithfully.

ii) This was a special sign between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13).

iii) Israel disdained the keeping of the Sabbath.

iv) Worse, Judah profaned the Sabbath by breaking the Sabbath law.

3. Grave sins.

a) The people slew their children cruelly.

b) They offered them as sacrifices to the idols.

c) Then they came to God’s House to offer worship.

d) In this manner, they profaned God’s House.

e) Their presence in God’s House profaned the sanctuary.

f) God held Judah accountable.