Desecrating refers to the act of violating or profaning something considered sacred or holy. In the biblical context, desecration often involves the defilement of holy places, objects, or practices that are set apart for the worship and service of God. The Bible provides numerous examples and warnings against such acts, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sanctity of what is dedicated to the Lord.

Desecration of Sacred Spaces

One of the most notable instances of desecration in the Bible is the defilement of the Temple in Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, the Temple was the central place of worship for the Israelites, where God's presence dwelt among His people. Desecrating the Temple was seen as a grave offense. In 2 Kings 21:4-5, King Manasseh is described as having built altars to pagan gods within the Temple courts, an act that provoked the Lord's anger: "He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, 'In Jerusalem I will put My name.' In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven."

The New Testament also addresses the issue of desecration. Jesus Himself cleansed the Temple, driving out those who were buying and selling within its courts, as recorded in Matthew 21:12-13: "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. And He declared to them, 'It is written, "My house will be called a house of prayer," but you are making it a den of robbers.'"

Desecration of Sacred Objects

The Bible also speaks against the desecration of sacred objects. In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar of Babylon used the gold and silver vessels taken from the Jerusalem Temple to drink wine and praise false gods during a feast. This act of sacrilege led to the famous writing on the wall, which foretold the king's downfall: "They drank the wine and praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone" (Daniel 5:4).

Desecration of Sacred Practices

Desecrating sacred practices, such as the Sabbath, is another theme found in Scripture. The Sabbath was instituted by God as a day of rest and worship. In Nehemiah 13:17-18, Nehemiah rebukes the people of Judah for profaning the Sabbath by engaging in commerce: "Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, 'What is this wicked thing you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your forefathers do the same, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Now you are bringing even more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.'"

Consequences of Desecration

The Bible consistently warns of the severe consequences of desecrating what is holy. In Ezekiel 22:26, the priests are condemned for failing to distinguish between the holy and the common, leading to God's judgment: "Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them."

Desecration is not only an affront to God but also a violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It reflects a disregard for His holiness and commands, often resulting in divine retribution or loss of blessing. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of reverence and respect for what God has declared sacred, urging believers to uphold the sanctity of their worship and devotion.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Desecrate.

Preface.
... Nevertheless, I maintain that these topics have a place in the circle of the preacher's
work, and he need entertain no fear of desecrating his pulpit by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/humanity in the city/preface.htm

On Eating.
... the good and saving work of the Word, the consecrated agape, with pots and pouring
of sauce; and by drink and delicacies and smoke desecrating that name, they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the instructor paedagogus/chap i on eating.htm

Our Hope is not the Conversion of the World.
... What of the evangelical churches filled with their worldly, pleasure-loving,
theater-going, Sabbath-desecrating, prayer-meeting-neglecting members? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 our hope is not.htm

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
... The sanctuary was a figure or symbol of the body of Christ, and the words of Jesus
were a covert prediction that as they were desecrating the symbol so would ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiv jesus attends the first.htm

The Emperor Indignant at the Murder of George, Rebukes the ...
... Footnotes: [469] Julian, Ep. 10. [470] Artemius, whom the Emperor Julian afterwards
beheaded for desecrating the pagan temple. [471] Philostorgius (VII. ...
/.../chapter iii the emperor indignant at.htm

Instructed in the Law of God
... of fasting ended, the people still further manifested their determination to return
to the Lord, by pledging themselves to cease from desecrating the Sabbath. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 56 instructed in the.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... We read of fratricide, drunkenness, lying, unbelief, theft, idolatry, slave-dealing,
and other crimes, but no hint as to sanctifying or desecrating the Sabbath ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

The Disciples' Return.
... to hear the tramp of the Roman legions resounding through their quiet hamlet, and
"the abomination of desolation," the imperial eagles desecrating the hallowed ...
/.../macduff/memories of bethany/xxiii the disciples return.htm

The Husbandmen
... own. It seems the wildest madness, that men should know and feel Who He
was, and yet expect to profit by desecrating His rights. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 1-12 the husbandmen.htm

The Christian Life
... It is very much like desecrating and secularising a whole land by the very act
of focussing the sanctity in some single consecrated shrine. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the christian life.htm

Desecrating (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Desecrate. Multi-Version
Concordance Desecrating (5 Occurrences). Nehemiah 13:17 Then ...
/d/desecrating.htm - 8k

Desecrates (1 Occurrence)

/d/desecrates.htm - 6k

Desert (322 Occurrences)

/d/desert.htm - 46k

Sadducees (14 Occurrences)
... From all these the priests of the high-priestly caste derived profit at the expense
of desecrating the temple (Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus, I, 371;). ...
/s/sadducees.htm - 31k

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