The parting of the Red Sea in Exodus was an awesome display of God’s power in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. What followed, Moses song in Chapter 15, gives us insight into his holiness.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. … The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. … Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?”
Exodus 15 1-2, 11
God’s holiness is not comprehensible to us. If its essence were met face-to-face with our innate wretchedness, we would likely be shaken, as portrayed in Isaiah 6.
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Here in Isaiah’s vision, he suddenly realizes how lowly he is compared with the Almighty God. Even the angels, who seemingly would be more familiar with God’s character and more accustomed to experiencing it, grappled for a way to describe it. They could only say, “Holy,” three times. In the Bible, emphasis was usually obtained by repeating a word. Jesus’ “Verily, verily I say unto you” would signal to his listeners that they really needed to pay close attention to what he was about to say. When the angels proclaim, “Holy” three times, we can assume they were trying to give voice to a type of character that was simply indescribable. Compared to his holiness, kings appear as mere paupers, virtuosos as amateurs, veteran preachers as first-year seminary students.
But how is simply knowing about his holiness relevant today? As many know, there is a distinct difference between having knowledge that something exists and believing in it. Believing in God’s holiness, believing that the God of the Bible is worthy to be exalted, means that we can put things into perspective. It means his holiness trumps our church leadership, our local and state leadership and our national leadership. Each one answers to him. This gives us comfort in knowing that no matter what challenges we may face, they are infinitesimal compared to God’s ability to not only handle them in his will and in his time but give us the strength to deal with them. Thus, no matter what we are praying for, in troubled times or good times, we can approach God as Christ did, beginning by praising him for who he is.
This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
point to ponder
What do you think about when you ponder God’s holiness? Does it blow your mind or have you become so accustomed to hearing about it that it falls off your back? If it doesn’t excite you quite like it used to, reread Isaiah 15, Psalm 97 and, “Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, And give thanks to His holy name.”
prayer
Father, no matter what may be going on in my daily life, please constantly remind me of your holiness so that I may think on it throughout the day at work and at home. I recognize that my particular life issues are well within your grasp, and I thank you for that. Thank you for reigning over my life, and I praise you for who you are. Your name is holy and I will exalt you. In Christ’s name…