"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa. 6:3, NIV).
Last time, we learnt that we worship God because He is Holy. We worship Him not because we are just commanded. It is our response to Him as we behold and appreciate the Beauty of His Holiness.
Do we really behold God’s Holiness? Just how much is our admiration or adoration for His Holiness?
The Lord claimed His Holiness, as we read in Lev. 19:1-2, “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”’”
The Holiness of God is really emphasized in His Word. “Holy, holy, holy…” as we read in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8.
God is Holy… “the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa. 6:3). His Holiness blankets the whole earth. He is Holy… “who was, and is, and is to come” (Rev. 4:8). His Holiness extends from eternity to eternity. There is no point in time that He is not Holy.
Let’s continue to take a glimpse on His Holiness.
We read in 1 Samuel 2:2, “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” His Holiness makes Him distinct and unique. For being Holy, He is also steadfast, firm as a rock.
Prophet Isaiah declared in Isa. 57:15, “For this is what the high and lofty One says --
he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” In His Holiness, He towers above all. Yet, He could also condescend to extend divine favors.
Joshua said in Josh 24:19, “Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.” For being Holy, He would not allow any rival and could impose fearsome punishment for the unrepentant.
Just consider how God’s Word pictured an event in the future, as God would manifest His Holiness. Let’s read Ezekiel 38:19-23:
“In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness…” (See also Psalm 110.)
In His Holiness, He could render judgment that would terrify the unholy. Revelation 15:3-4 states, “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
The Son of God said in Luke 12:4-5, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
There is a need to fear the Holy God. “For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him” (Ps. 89:6-7).
“Yet,” we read in Psalm 22:3-5, “you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.”
In His Holiness, He can be trusted to help His people.
As we also read in Psalm 111:6-9, “He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever--holy and awesome is his name.”
Indeed, in His Holiness He would overwhelm you with benefits. Let’s see just a few verses of Psalm 103:
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits -- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (verses 1-5).
But, how should we react to His Holiness?
Of course, we should praise and worship Him.
“Let them praise your great and awesome name -- he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice -- you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy” (Ps. 99:3-5).
We also read in Psalm 99:9, “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.”
And in Psalm 71:22-24: “I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you--I, whom you have redeemed. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.”
Aside from praising and worshiping Him, we should also listen to Him.
We read in Isaiah 48:17-19, “This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me.’"
About 2,000 years ago He who is Holy lived among men. The Apostle Peter acknowledged Jesus Christ as the One to be worshiped and listened to. We read in John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Even demonic spirit knew Him. Just as we read Mark 1:23-24, “Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!’"
And during our time, the Holy God is living in every believer. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20; also 1 Cor. 3:16-17 and 2 Cor. 6:16).
Have we been given the Holy Spirit to perceive the Holiness of the Sovereign God? Have we realized the great privilege to become His living temple?
If so, let’s continue to praise and worship Him. Let’s always listen to His Words. And let us also “be holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
PRAYER: Our Holy Father, we praise and exalt You as we take a glimpse of Your Holiness. Thank You so much for giving us the wonderful privilege – not only to be in Your Holy Presence, but also to become Your Holy Temple. Always help us to be conscious at all times of what You are -- the Holy God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
