Wholly Holy!!!

When I want to emphasize words or thoughts, I employ the exclamation mark. Anyone who has ever received an email or text from me knows this to be true, perhaps to a fault. Conversely, and far more effectively, the Bible’s version of !! is repetition, across both the Old and New Testaments. For instance, a thought or word is repeated-- twice for emphasis, and three times for extra emphasis. So here is a pop quiz: 

Think about all of God’s attributes. Which one is repeated for emphasis? Do we read that God is good, good, good? Loving, loving, loving? Just, just, just? Merciful, merciful, merciful? Gracious, gracious, gracious? 

I am sure you have guessed the answer is no. Rather, consider this description of God. 

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:3

God is Holy!!! (Note also the punctuation in the verse.)

And yet, if we were to ask a hundred people to describe God in one word, I doubt this is the attribute they would choose. More likely, “love” would be the description chosen. Of course, God is love, as the disciple John asserts in 1 John 4. But I have come to believe that holiness best encompasses all that God is, reflecting on this quote from R.C. Sproul’s The Holiness of God:

“The tendency is to add the idea of the holiness of God to this long list of attributes as one attribute among many. But when the word holy is applied to God, it does not signify one single attribute. On the contrary, God is called holy in  a general sense. The word is used as a synonym for His deity. That is, the word holy calls attention to all that God is. It reminds us that His love is holy love, His justice is holy justice, His mercy is holy mercy, His knowledge is holy knowledge. His spirit is a holy spirit.” 

Sadly, rather than elevating “holiness” as a synonym for God and His deity, it is most often ignored by the world, or worse still, rolls off the tongue in some ridiculous catch phrase (“holy moly” comes to mind, others much worse still). But if we think about it, can we even aptly define “holiness” without using the name of God? 

When Adam and Eve sinned, what about God compelled them to cover up with fig leaves? 

They knew they were in the presence of a Holy God!!!

When Isaiah saw God sitting on His throne, was it God’s love or mercy that caused him to exclaim, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5)

No. Isaiah knew he was in the presence of a Holy God!!!

When Peter saw Jesus catch the multitude of fish, why did he fall down at Jesus’s feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). 

He knew he was in the presence of a Holy God!!!

What took me so long in my life to see God as Holy? Could it be that I was comparing myself to “evil” men such as Hitler in order to feel righteous, rather than seeing myself compared to God? Only by seeing God as Holy, do we know that we are not worthy to be in His presence. Only then, when we acknowledge our sinfulness, can we receive the amazing blessings of His holy love, His holy mercy, HIs Holy grace, His Holy justice, and His Holy Spirit. Indeed, as the classic hymn says, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” may our attention be captivated by His holiness, for in so doing, we are captivated by Him as He truly is.

I will be co-teaching a class based on the study HIStory in 30 weeks, written by myself and Natalie Walkley. We will be meeting live as well as on zoom, so if you would like to join us, click here for the registration information. Also, feel free to contact me directly if you want more information