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Sacred Space in the Old Testament

Sacred Space in the Old Testament. By Charity Stratford. Location, location, location. “The basic lesson that we can learn from our analysis of the Old Testament material is that place is a hugely important biblical category -- and that it has been greatly underrated” (Inge 46)

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Sacred Space in the Old Testament

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  1. Sacred Space in the Old Testament By Charity Stratford

  2. Location, location, location “The basic lesson that we can learn from our analysis of the Old Testament material is that place is a hugely important biblical category -- and that it has been greatly underrated” (Inge 46) - The Garden of Eden - The Promised Land - Mt. Sinai

  3. Hebrew Understanding of Sacred Space -Sacred space was not a peculiar idea to the Hebrews -Hebrew god could not be contained in one place; He resided in the heavens -Despite sin, He chose to reveal parts of His character and will in visual or auditory ways -God is transcendent and immanent; where God is, that place is sacred Hill 65

  4. “Symbolically, the very throne of God from which He ruled over all creation was established in the heavens. And yet King Solomon recognized that since even the highest heaven cannot contain the Lord God, how much less the meager temple he had built. The glory of the Lord God actually extends beyond the heavens, and from this vantage point he looks down at both the heavens and the earth. It is for this reason the prophet Isaiah reminded those Israelites who would reduce God to their level of understanding and ability that Yahweh’s ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than those of mortals” (Hill 65)

  5. Theophany God revealing Himself in a visual or auditory way. --Voice (Genesis 4:9; 6:13) --Flame (Genesis 15:12) --Burning bush (Exodus 3:2-6) --Lightening and thunder on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:18-20) --Pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 40:34-38) --Angel of the Lord in a human form (Judges 13:8-20) Hill 67

  6. Sacred Sites Alters: Genesis 12:8 Stone pillars: Genesis 35:14 (Jacob’s stone pillar at Bethel) Engraved standing stones: Joshua 4:1-9 (Twelve stones at Gilgal) Natural landmarks: Genesis 12:8, 18:1 (Oak trees at Shechem and Mamre)

  7. The Need for Sacred Sites 1. Worship response/tangible sign 2. Geographical reference 3. Teaching memorial Hill 67

  8. Implications of Sacred Space for Hebrew Worship 1. Preconditions for worship: must be clean 2. Pilgrimages: a journey made to the sacred place as an act of devotion 3. Teaching memorials: instruct later generations of truths about Yahweh 4. Place-specific worship: worship at the sacred space 5. “God With Us”: God would dwell with His people Hill 69-72

  9. The Need for a Sacred Place • Permanence of a place gives way to remembrance • The psychological impact of the structure and setting make it easier to move into worship • Specific location enhances the idea the worship is meeting a person and is not meaningless; people are associated with places Pierce 65

  10. Issues Allegorical Interpretations of the Tabernacle - Many views a. a picture of the universe (Philo) --tent: the spiritual world --courts: the physical world b. every element of Jesus c. too much allegory Pierce 67

  11. A Representation of the Universe -There was heaven, land and sea symbolically represented -The Lord “built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth He established forever.” -The beams, curtains, fire, and cloud from the altar of incense -Proclaims the presence of the living God through creation Webber 47

  12. Every Element of Jesus The Doctrine of Satisfaction: the Altar of Brass The Doctrine of Sanctification: the Laver of Brass The Doctrine Concerning Worship: The Three Entrances, the Table of Shewbread, the Lampstand of Gold, and the Altar of Gold The Doctrine of the Incarnation: the Vail The Doctrine of Christology: The Ark of Gold and Wood The Doctrine of Propitiation: The Mercy Seat of Gold (McGee)

  13. Too Much Allegory -Not much explanation of the meaning of the various elements in the Bible -New Testament writers were not very concerned with this topic, so we should not be either -Too much weight to bear -Only look at the biblical context, nothing more Pierce 67

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