The cleansing of the temple by Hezekiah and Josiah are significant events in the history of the Israelites. They are recorded in the Old Testament in 2 Chronicles 29-31, for Hezekiah and 2 Kings 22-23, for Josiah. The event occurred during Hezekiah and Josiah’s reigns, two of the most righteous kings of Judah.
The cleansing of the temple was a process of removing all the idols and other objects of worship brought into the temple by the previous kings and priests. The temple had become a place of idol worship and had lost its sanctity. Hezekiah and Josiah recognized the importance of restoring the temple to its original purpose and set out to cleanse it.
During King Hezekiah’s reign the amount of debris removed from the temple was significant. According to 2 Chronicles 29:16, “They brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord.” There was such a huge amount of debris that it took eight days to remove. The priests and Levites worked tirelessly to remove all the idols, altars, and other objects of worship to other gods (small g), which are no gods.
During the cleansing process while Josiah was King, the priests discovered the Law of God. According to 2 Kings 22:8, “Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.'” The discovery of the Law of God was a significant event because it had been lost for many years. The Law of God provided guidance and direction for the Israelites and was essential for their spiritual well-being. Can you imagine? They had lost God’s Word! Hum, reminds me of today.
The cleansing of the temple and the discovery of God’s Law profoundly impacted the Israelites. It brought about a spiritual revival and a renewed commitment to God. Hezekiah and Josiah led the people in a renewed dedication to God and the temple. They reinstituted the Passover and other religious festivals and ensured the temple was used for its intended purpose.
Additionally, in the New Testament, Jesus also cleansed the temple. This event is recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46, and John 2:13-16. Jesus was angered by the buying and selling of goods in the temple, which he saw as a desecration of the Holy Place. He overturned the money changers’ tables and drove out those selling animals for sacrifice. Jesus declared, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). This event further emphasizes the importance of keeping the temple pure and holy, both in the Old and New Testaments. The Word of God, Jesus, Himself is the One to cleanse the temple.
The significance of the cleansing of the temple by Hezekiah, Josiah, and Jesus is still relevant today. It reminds us of the importance of keeping our hearts and minds pure and free from idols and other distractions. It also reminds us of the importance of the Word of God in our lives. God’s Word guides and directs our lives and helps us stay on the right path.
Instructing the Christians in Corinth to flee from sexual immorality, the apostle Paul exhorted, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Indeed, God the Father created our bodies, God the Son redeemed them, and God, the Holy Spirit, indwells them. This makes our body the very temple of the Holy Spirit of God.
Those who do not belong to Christ do not have the Spirit of Christ residing in them, Romans 8. Thus, their bodies are not a temple of the Holy Spirit. The most significant thing we can do for our bodies is to make them into a temple for God’s Spirit. And we do this by placing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. The moment we do this, God’s Spirit indwelling occurs, 1 Corinthians 12:13. Our salvation is sealed and guaranteed (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit will be with us forever, John 14:16, given by God as His pledge of the believer’s future inheritance in glory, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.
As the Holy Spirit takes up residance in us, we honor God with our bodies as they “are not [our] own,” as Paul said. We have indeed been bought with a price. And it was not gold or silver or other perishable things by which we were redeemed; it was with the precious, unblemished blood of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:18-19. Ordained by God before the foundation of the world, Acts 2:23, Christ’s blood purchased us out of the slavery of sin and set us free forever. And as Christian’s bodies are God’s temple, we are to use them to glorify God.
In conclusion, the three recorded occasions of cleansing of the temple by Hezekiah, Josiah, and Jesus are significant events in the history of the Israelites and for us. It brought about a spiritual revival and a renewed commitment to God. In the instance of Jesus dying for our sins, being buried, raised again, and now seated at the Father’s right hand, this birthed the Church and the life you and I are called to today. How important is the discovery of the Word of God? It is significant because it has been lost to so many of us for many years. The significance of temple cleansing is still relevant today. It reminds us of the importance of keeping our hearts and minds pure and free from idols and other distractions.
Grace and peace to you. And remember, the cleansing should take place daily!
Spiritual Wanderings 