To sanctify something is to set it apart for God’s special use and purpose. (Grace Theological Seminary)
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 17:17–19). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ne 9:1). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Fasting
“By fasting, the body learns to obey the soul; by praying the soul learns to command the body.” William Secker
Sackcloth
Earth on their heads
This was also to show their lowly state before God, and to say “we are so troubled by our sin that the normal comforts of life are unimportant.”
“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” —Daniel 9:3
2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ne 9:2). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
26 You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Le 20:26). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Le 20:7–8). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Pe 1:15–19). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ne 9:5). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
The
38 “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ne 9:38). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. —The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Co 6:19–20). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Takeaway: