Quoting the apostle Paul quoting Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah.
“What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they will be My people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16; Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 27:37)
Those in Corinth were mostly Gentiles, and if they heard the word of God it was the teachings of Moses, so he started by quoting Leviticus. To better help them understand their new life in Christ he also explained it through the words of three other Hebrew prophets. After all, the believers in Corinth were experiencing what the prophets had foretold.
Leviticus chapters 25 and 26 record words the Lord spoke to Moses. “The Lord said speak to the children of Israel….” (Leviticus 25:1) Moses declared God’s decrees, laws and regulations. When they were followed God would bless His people. When they disobeyed there would be consequences not to their liking. We would call it chastisement. Theirs would be severe. “Moreover I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Leviticus 26:11-12)
Jeremiah tells us that God does the gathering of His people from captivity. “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.” (Jeremiah 32:38-40)
“We are the temple of the living God” who has called us out of our captivity so that He might dwell among us. He has given us one heart, a new one, and one way, Jesus Christ. The Father chastises those He loves, but His soul will never reject His children. The fear of God is so that we “will not turn away” from Him. God has “set His sanctuary” in the midst of His people forever, (Ezekiel 37:27)
“Therefore,
‘Come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘ And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6 17-18; Ezekiel 20:34)
Reading this quote in the book of Isaiah helps us to understand the importance of this command. First came the promised call, the gospel of our salvation “Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Hear I am.'” How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:6-7)
Then came the words “Depart, depart, go out from there, touch nothing unclean; Go out from the midst of her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.” (Isaiah 52:11) God Himself calls His people out of the world through the gospel of peace. He commands us to depart from lawless unbelievers, and purify ourselves in the blood of the Lamb because we are the “vessels of the LORD.”
Vessels who wear the armor of God and have shod our “FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.” (Ephesians 6:15)
“And,
I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18)
“Therefore,
Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Father, how amazing is Your grace that would call us out of darkness into Your glorious light. A new day dawns, when by faith, we live by Christ’s life in us. Created to be Your holy and eternal temple cause us to tremble realizing our imperfections. Thankfully the fear You have placed in our heart is pacified by the knowledge of Your love. You will never reject Your people, but because we are Your sons and daughters, You will correct us. Our calling is to be holy as You are holy, a high calling …… to be Your dwelling place. Thank You for sending Your Son who brought light into the darkness of this world.
His Family Table 