Articles
Holy versus Profane - Ezekiel 44 23
Holy versus Profane - Ezekiel 44 23
As Ezekiel describes the temple of his vision, one thing is continually emphasized: holiness. This has been the emphasis throughout this last section of Ezekiel.
Israel profaned the name of the LORD (36:20), but God had concern for His holy name and acted for the sake of His name (36:21-22).
God acted to show the greatness of name and His holiness (38:23). He would not let His name be profaned anymore (39:7). He would be jealous for His holy name (39:25). He would vindicate His holy name (39:27).
In the temple we find the Holy place (41:4,21,23; 42:14). The chambers next to the Holy place were holy (42:13). The ‘things’ of the temple were holy (44:13). The clothes the priests wore when serving the LORD were holy (42:14; 44:19).
Earlier in the Law, we learned that not only were the priests holy unto the LORD, but ALL the people were to be HOLY, even as the LORD himself is holy (Lev 11:44f; 19:2; 20:7).
You may remember that the heavenly beings seen by Isaiah continually declared: Holy Holy Holy is the LORD (Isa. 6). Thousands of years later, John sees those in the presence of God still declaring His holiness (Rev. 4).
In this new era of the new temple, Ezekiel saw that those who served unto the LORD were to teach the people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean (Ezek. 44:23).
God is not ‘common’ nor ‘profane’, He is the LORD. He alone is GOD. He alone is to be worshiped. He alone is worthy of our hearts and praise. His people in old times simply did not learn this. They profaned His holy name (Ezek. 20:39). They despised His holy things and profaned His Sabbath (22:8, 26).
Peter instructs us: “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16). He teaches us that we are a holy priesthood, a holy nation unto the LORD (1Pet. 2:5, 9). We were sanctified (we might coin a word here and say we were ‘holified’) when we turned to the Lord (cp. 1Cor. 6:9-11). The people of God in the New Testament are continually called ‘saints’. As saints, we are to then pursue holiness (Heb. 12:14). We are to come out from among the world (not in physical location, but in spiritual character) and touch no unclean thing (2 Cor. 6:17-18). Thus, we are to cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Cor. 7:1).
Do you know the difference between the holy and the profane? Do you practice such in your daily living?
Hugh DeLong
