Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him. (Numbers 19:13)
Continuing in the vein we were discussing in the previous devotion, the primary purpose for the waters of purification was to sprinkle and cleanse someone that had come in contact with a corpse. This was to allow for them to enter the Sanctuary thus amplifying the point that, in every way, His House was open only to those who were clean. Because He is life, death was not permitted; because He is holy, the profane was kept away and unable to contaminate His House.
Of course, we understand that the principle being addressed here is not just for a physical temple but for the House He is building now, in and through His people. Peter referred to this house when, likening Yeshua’s followers to “living stones,” he said that we “are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua the Messiah” (1 Peter 2:4-5). Just as the priests of old were given the task of safeguarding the Sanctuary against things that would defile, as a “royal priesthood,” we are given the same responsibility –- His house must be kept clean.
This principle will continue into the future as well. Speaking of the New Jerusalem, the Scripture says, “There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27). And so the point is that, just as the Sanctuary was not to be polluted with death and corruption, we should be diligent to keep such corrosive elements from our bodies, seeing that we are Temples of the Holy Spirit. Of course, we all know that it is one thing to say it and another to do it, still it is our duty. Thankfully, when we do find that we have been contaminated by death and sin, we have a recourse that allows us to enter into His House — our Messiah and Savior. May we never fail to go to Him.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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