Respect and Reverence in the Sanctuary

Stephanie A. Mayberry

‘You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.   
Leviticus 19:30                                            

At one time, the sanctuary was recognized as a sacred place. It was treated with respect and was considered a holy place. This doesn’t seem to be taught as widely as it once was, and reverence for Yehovah’s sanctuary seems to be waning.

Sanctuary – a sacred place, a HOLY place- YEHOVAH’S place

Throughout scripture, we are told that the sanctuary is holy. It is where Yehovah resides. We are to show reverence and respect in those places that are dedicated to the presence and worship of Yehovah.

2 You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary:
I am the Lord.
Leviticus 26:2

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
Psalm 77:13

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the Lord.
Psalm 134:2

The sanctuary is a sacred place.

The reverence we are commanded to give Yehovah’s sanctuary extends beyond the “church building” to the homes where people gather for Sabbath service, the online platforms where prayer meetings and services are held, and even to our own behaviors and attitudes as we approach that sacred space.

There is a certain decorum that you must maintain to show respect for Yehovah, the teacher He anointed, the authority He appointed, and the others who have gathered.

Now, when you join a prayer meeting or service in a home or online, you may feel that it is a more relaxed environment than a dedicated building for worship – and it is. But it is still Yehovah’s sanctuary, and you MUST treat it with the respect and reverence that it commands.

While this may seem to be common sense for some, not all have been taught to respect Yehovah. So here are some basic guidelines for appropriate conduct in the sanctuary:

• Don’t be disruptive. This includes talking out of turn, having private conversations, and making noise.
• Limit activity during teaching or prayer. Now sometimes it can’t be avoided, but limit any movement as much as possible. Use the restroom and make sure you have what you need before service starts.
• Stay off your phone unless you use it for your Bible. Don’t scroll social media, watch videos, or anything else. Keep your focus on the service and save those activities for after the service.
• If you have two activities that you want to do but they are at the same time, pick one. If you are in a prayer meeting, PRAY. Do NOT try to engage in some other activity at the same time. If you are doing the other activity, you are not praying. Have some respect.
• If you are finished praying or don’t feel like praying, don’t start scrolling on your phone or texting someone. Don’t have a conversation with someone. If you don’t want to pray or are finished praying, then quietly leave. Corporate prayer (everyone praying together) means that everyone present is praying. If you aren’t going to participate, it definitely impacts the others who are praying.

Why is this important?

YOUR actions impact the others in the service. It doesn’t matter if you are in person or online; what you do affects the others in the group.

When you are in a prayer meeting but not praying (and choosing to engage in another activity instead: scrolling on your phone, talking to someone, watching a video, etc.), not only is it rude, it drags down the flow for everyone. If you aren’t going to be FULLY present, don’t bother joining.

This life is not about appearing holy; it’s about being holy. It isn’t enough to show up. You have to engage, be present. THAT is holiness.

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