Purification to be made holy!
In the book of Exodus chapter 19: The Lord Reveals Himself at Sinai
Moses and the people had to prepare For God to come and be in His divine and holy presence
God instructs purification, why?
In Exodus 19:22, God instructs Moses to ensure that the priests, as well as the people, purify themselves as they prepare to approach Him on Mount Sinai. The verse reads, "Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them."
The call to purification and consecration is significant and multifaceted:
1. Preparation to Encounter God: The context of this command is the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. God was about to reveal His covenant and commandments, and His holiness required that those who come before Him must be set apart and prepared. Purification was necessary to ensure that the people were spiritually ready to meet with God.
2. Acknowledgment of God's Holiness: Purification symbolized an acknowledgment of the holiness of God. Coming into the presence of a holy God required recognition of one’s own sinful state and the need to be made clean. It was a physical act that demonstrated a deep spiritual truth—the need to respect and honor the divine presence.
3. Consecration and Set-apartness: To consecrate means to declare or set apart as sacred. The Israelites were God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes. By purifying themselves, they were participating in this act of being set apart, acknowledging their unique relationship and mission as God’s covenant people.
4. Avoidance of Judgment: The warning that the Lord could "break out against them" underscores the seriousness of approaching God casually or in an unworthy manner. It serves as a reminder of the need for reverence and that purity is essential to prevent judgment when entering God's presence.
5. Spiritual Cleanliness: While purification involved physical acts, such as washing clothes and abstaining from certain activities, its ultimate purpose was to express a deeper spiritual cleanliness necessary for communion with God.
This instruction reflects broader biblical themes of holiness and purity. It reminds believers today of the importance of approaching God with reverence and a heart prepared to encounter His presence, recognizing the need for spiritual purification through Christ, who fulfills and transcends the Old Testament purification rites in the new covenant.
Takeaways
•Purification is not just physical but is to spiritual. Now today we don’t have to live by the law of food and ceremony but then in Israel they fasted and abstained from desires of flesh and followed to be clean.
God also calls us to purification and live a life pleasing to Him.
Purification is a process as sanctification is. To be in the presence of God the people of Israel had to rid themselves of evil and ways of unjust. Today we have the ability to be pure and live righteously in God but we have to choose it.
My prayer is you all would find rest in knowing God desires to help and give you everything you desire but before He does that He has to prune and purify you. Take heart it’s not the most pleasing thing but God will take away then replace better than you could have ever imagined.
Purification is a critical theme in the Bible, particularly as discussed in Exodus. The Israelites were called to prepare themselves physically and spiritually to enter God's presence at Mount Sinai. This involved not only washing and abstaining from certain activities but also recognizing their need for spiritual cleansing. Purification signifies an acknowledgment of God’s holiness and a deep respect for His divine presence. In today's context, while we are no longer bound by Old Testament laws, we are still called to live lives that reflect spiritual purity and holiness. This can often mean letting go of unclean habits and embracing a life that is pleasing to God. The act of purification today can look like daily repentance, prayer, and engaging with the Word of God. Through Christ, believers find that they can approach God with confidence, knowing that He desires to cleanse and sanctify them. Spiritual cleanliness becomes less about ritual and more about relationship, where a genuine heart seeks to draw closer to the Lord. The ultimate goal of this purification process is to foster a strong and abiding connection with God, allowing us to live out our identities as His holy people.
