The Temple, the Dwelling place
The Temple on Mount Moriah constantly reminded people of God’s presence among His followers. The principal service in the earthly Temple was the Day of Atonement, which represented God’s act of removing the sin that separated humankind from Him. As stated in Exodus 25:8, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” The Hebrew word for “sanctuary” is often translated to refer to a building or physical structure where people could worship God. However, the Hebrew noun also means “hideout” or “hiding place”. Because it was meant for God, it became His holy dwelling among His people.
The following blogs explore God’s dwelling or “hideout” among His people. Why did God ask them to build a hideout for Him? The answer is that the people were afraid when God spoke to them directly; however, He still wanted to be present among them (Exodus 20:18-19).
God commanded His people to build a place where He could dwell among them. They would know He was there, but they would not see His glory or be afraid. The structure would serve as a daily reminder that God is with His people. The Temple’s physical structure was meant to be God’s sacred residence and could not be used for any other purpose. Therefore, God told Moses to build a sanctuary as His dwelling place. He asked for a space to live among His people, rather than just a building for worship. People were free to worship God anywhere, but God’s desire for His creation to stay close to Him is more meaningful than any special worship service. His dwelling, the sanctuary, strongly reminds us that God would live among His faithful forever when the time is right.
The Hebrew noun “Mikdash,” meaning “hideout,” does not refer solely to a physical structure, but also to a sanctuary (or hideout) within a physical place. The Hebrew word for the Temple or dwelling place is “Mishkan.” The Mikdash, a hideout, was enclosed within the Mishkan. In the instructions given to Moses, the terms for the sanctuary and the Temple are different.
Sificance of the physical Temple. Read the next blog.