Holy is the Lord God

Our Bible often tells us that God is holy.  Revelation 4 talks about 4 fantastical living creatures praising God continually, saying:  “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God” (Revelation 4:8 NET).  God is regularly described in the Old Testament as the Holy One of Israel, particularly in Isaiah.

So what does the word ‘holy’ really mean?  The Hebrew word for ‘holy’ is Qodesh, defined as “apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness

1. apartness, sacredness, holiness
   1. of God
   2. of places
   3. of things
2. set-apartness, separateness“

definition found at: http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/qodesh.html

What does it mean that God is Holy?  Does it mean that God is ‘apart’ from us – or that He is distant from us?  Can we really know and understand a God who is totally ‘separate’ from us?

By definition, the God who is ‘apart’ from us will never be fully understood by us.  After all, He is infinite and we are finite.  He is eternal and we are mortal.  However, the Bible helps us understand more of Him.  When I was reading Exodus 30 (January 27 – see reading plan) God gave me a small step of understanding.

In Exodus 30:22-38 God describes to Moses how to make a sacred anointing oil and an incense that is to be holy to the LORD.  God said “you must not make any like it with the same recipe. It is holy, and it must be holy to you” (vs 32 NET).  Regarding the incense He says “And the incense that you are to make, you must not make for yourselves using the same recipe; it is to be most holy to you, belonging to the Lord” (vs 37 NET).

I was struck by this idea that the anointing oil and the incense were only to be made for this sacred purpose.  You couldn’t go down to the local perfume seller and buy a bottle of “Holy: A Brand New Fragrance From God”.  The anointing oil and the incense were set apart to be used in worshipping the LORD.  They were specially made for that purpose and that purpose alone.  God Himself is so sacred that He will not share His anointing oil and incense with anyone – they are only to be used in giving Him praise.  To borrow from Rick Warren – the anointing oil and the incense is not about us, it’s all about God.

Our readings have continued into Leviticus – a part of the Bible that is commonly called the ‘holiness code’.  Many people consider the holiness code as a set of laws – a series of statements of things to do and things not to do.  But if we look at it that way then we are reading the Bible as if it’s all about us.

The revelation I gained from Exodus made me think completely differently about the holiness code.  What if the holiness code is not about us?  What if the holiness code is all about God? That puts it in a whole new light.  Holy items are ones which are sacred and set apart for God’s purposes.  All the instructions from Leviticus are designed to help us be holy – not so that we can be “good people” but instead, to set us apart for God and His purposes.  The Apostle Paul urges us to present our “bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1 NET).  As we commit ourselves to be used for God’s purpose and only His purpose we will begin to know Him more. Indeed, then we will be sweet smelling incense before our God.

Advertisement