The Everlasting Covenant

Chapter 31 - The Sanctuary of God

“WHEN Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion.” ¹ “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.” ² EVCO 356.1

Every place where God’s presence is manifested, is sacred. When the Lord appeared to Moses in the burning bush in the desert, He said to him, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” ³ Likewise when He appeared to Joshua before Jericho, He said, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” ⁴ When God came down on Mount Sinai, to speak the law, the mountain was made holy by His presence, so that no unconsecrated person could touch it and live. Sinai was at that time the sanctuary of the Lord (Psalm 68:17, R.V.); for the word “sanctuary” signifies “holy place,” and every abiding place of God is necessarily holy. EVCO 356.2

The sanctuary of God is therefore His dwelling-place, so that the text first quoted tells us that when God called Israel out of Egypt, it was that he might dwell among them, and sanctify them by His presence. In harmony with this is 2 Corinthians 6:16, 17:— EVCO 356.3

“What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.” EVCO 357.1

When Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, preached the Gospel before the Jewish Sanhedrim, it was these words that stirred the grave assembly to fury, and caused them to gnash on him with their teeth:— EVCO 357.2

“David found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built Him an house. Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord; or what is the place of My rest?” ¹ EVCO 357.3

This is what Paul said to the Athenians (Acts 17:24); and Solomon himself, at the dedication of the house which he had built for the Lord, said: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have builded?” ² “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” ³ EVCO 357.4