He measured it by the four sides; it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. Ezekiel 42:20
How could there possibly be a profane place in the Temple of God? Ezekiel is being given a tour of the city and of the temple by a man with a reed, who measures everything they encounter during the tour. Our text tells of a very large space that separated the temple sanctuary from a section that was referred to as the profane place. So how did it get to be profane, and why was there such a large space between it and the sanctuary? And why should we care?
The term profane simply refers here to a common, or ordinary place, with no ritualistic or spiritual significance. There were no sacrifices or rituals performed there; it was just a place where people could gather in anticipation of those things performed in the sanctuary. Or it was a place for coming and going, visiting others, or any number of mundane things that had no relevance to the worship for which the temple was used. God is telling us that a great separation existed between the sanctuary and the profane place because of the vast differences in their purposes. Does God require a difference between the holy and profane today for the Christian?
Indeed He does! Although you might not realize it by the way many Christians conduct themselves when they are approaching the sanctuary. There was probably no dress code for the folks who were in the profane place in the temple. People could not only dress as they pleased, or felt comfortable doing, but they could probably bring whatever items along that they wanted. Such a place today would have lots of electronic gadgets, books, balls, and frisbees, and dozens of other things. No place for those in the sanctuary! The dress code in the sanctuary was very tightly controlled. Nobody there even thought of approaching without every aspect of their person being exactly as the law prescribed. Deportment would be dignified, language would be reverent, and attitude would be appropriate. Does that sound like the Assembly meetings where we come to remember the Lord, or gather for prayer and Bible study?
So much of our day-to-day living needs to be left behind when we enter the sanctuary of God’s presence as God’s people. Let us remember the difference that God places between that which is holy and that which is profane. -Jim MacIntosh