2 Maccabees 10:1-8: a reflection

1Then Maccabaeus and those who were with him, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city. 2They pulled down the altars that had been built in the marketplace by the foreigners, and also the sacred enclosures. 3Having cleansed the sanctuary, they made another altar of sacrifice. Striking flint and starting a fire, they offered sacrifices after they had ceased for two years, burned incense, lit lamps, and set out the show bread. 4When they had done these things, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if they ever did sin, they might be chastened by him with forbearance, and not be delivered to blaspheming and barbarous heathen. 5Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, upon that very day it came to pass that the sanctuary was cleansed, even on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Chislev. 6They observed eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how not long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves like wild animals. 7Therefore carrying wands wreathed with leaves, and beautiful branches, and palm fronds also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him who had successfully brought to pass the cleansing of his own place. 8They ordained also with a public statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should observe these days every year.

After the temple had been defiled by foreign occupiers, its altars profaned and its worship stopped, God's people recover it and set about cleansing it. They tear down the defiled altars, cleanse the sanctuary, build a new altar, and restore the worship that had ceased. And on the very day the temple had once been profaned, it is now rededicated, with eight days of joyful celebration and thanksgiving to God, who had brought about the cleansing of his own place.

Notice the movement from defilement to cleansing and rededication, and the joy of it. What had been profaned and given over to false worship is now cleansed, restored, and given back to God, and the people celebrate with gladness. The defilement was real, but it was not the end; the sanctuary was reclaimed, purified, and rededicated to its true purpose, and there was great joy in the restoration.

That movement is a picture of what God does with what has been defiled by sin, including our own lives. The New Testament calls us God's temple; and our lives can be defiled by sin, given over to false worship, our true purpose profaned. But God is able to cleanse and reclaim what sin has defiled, to purify and rededicate us to himself, restoring us to our true purpose, and there is joy in such restoration. If your life has been defiled by sin, do not despair as though it were beyond reclaiming. God cleanses and rededicates what has been profaned; bring your defiled and profaned places to him, and let him cleanse and reclaim them for himself. The restoration of what sin has defiled is cause for the same joy these celebrated; God can make his temple clean again.

Lord, after the temple had been defiled, your people cleansed and rededicated it, restoring the worship that had ceased, and celebrated with great joy that you had brought about the cleansing of your own place. Thank you that this is a picture of what you do with what has been defiled by sin, including my own life. Your word calls me your temple; and my life can be defiled by sin, given over to false worship, my true purpose profaned. But you are able to cleanse and reclaim what sin has defiled, to purify and rededicate me to yourself, restoring me to my true purpose, and there is joy in such restoration. If my life has been defiled by sin, keep me from despairing as though it were beyond reclaiming. You cleanse and rededicate what has been profaned; I bring my defiled and profaned places to you, and ask you to cleanse and reclaim them for yourself. Make your temple clean again, and give me the joy of restoration.