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Do You Leap On the Temple Threshold?
“And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit.” (Zephaniah 1:9)
Say what? What's the deal with the leaping and the threshold? There's actually an interesting story that may be related to this...
Much earlier in Israel's history (1 Sam 4), they had lost a battle to the Philistines and thought that carrying the ark into the next battle would turn their fortunes. It's kinda funny because they ask the question, "Why has Jehovah defeated us?", and then they never actually ask HIM. They just take the ark into battle like a lucky charm.
Anyway, that obviously doesn't work, and the Philistines capture the ark. When they put it in the house of their god Dagon, some odd things happen. The first night, the Dagon idol gets knocked over. The second night, the Dagon idol gets knocked over, and the head and hands of the idol get cut off on the threshold of the house. “Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.” 1 Samuel 5:5. In other words, those going to worship Dagon jump over the threshold when entering his house.
So, fast-forward a few hundred years, and there are apparently people leaping on the threshold of Jehovah's temple having brought this Dagon superstition into worship of Jehovah. While it may be interesting to think about these two stories being related, the important piece of information is that Jehovah is guaranteeing punishment to those who engage in such a practice.
What's the lesson? What do we learn about Jehovah from such an odd, rather obscure condemnation? He is holy and must be treated as holy. This is actually really sobering. Jehovah doesn't countenance any act of worship that doesn't originate with Him. That's part of what 'holy' means.
Consider some examples from the New Testament.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;” (Eph 5:18, 19). What does Jehovah command about music in the New Testament? "Sing." What do you bring to Him?
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil 2:3, 4). What does Jehovah command regarding your attitude toward other Christians? "Regard them as more important than yourself." What do you bring Him?
Do you treat Jehovah as holy, or do you bring your own acts of worship to Him, demanding that He accept them? What happens when you stand before Him in judgment and He asks, "So, what did you learn from Zephaniah?" We need to examine and understand the basis for our acts of worship and abandon anything that doesn't come with authority from Jehovah.
