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The Holiness of God
Brian Mashburn
January 27, 2008
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The Holiness of God
Holiness is not a word that we should throw around lightly.
In Exodus, the first thing called holy was the ground Moses stood on at the burning bush. It required he go barefoot.
Next is the Israelite chorus after the parting of the sea, where they describe holiness as something "majestic", quickly followed by praise because they are being led by Yahweh to his holy dwelling.
In the desert, God called the 7th day holy, which included extra provision from God on Friday to be gathered so that His people could rest on Saturday, as God instructed.
Right before the delivery of the Charter of a new nation (Ten Commandments), Yahweh attributes the word holy on people for the first time by saying "You will be for me a holy people".
Then God immediately dictates that if any of these people come too close to the mountain that He plans on descending upon, making it holy, by the way, they will perish.
We'll find out later when God tells them to build a portable temple for him, he will distinguish between a room called The Holy Place and another room called The Most Holy Place.
What are we to make of all this? Holiness demands nakedness, looks like glory, describes God's dwelling, consumes a day of the week, demands people's energies, describes His followers, and actually kills people if they dare get too close.
Holiness is not a word we should throw around lightly.
And as we approach Mt. Sinai with Moses, disappear with him into the dense cloud, listen to the voice of Yahweh, see the fire of His descent, try to get our footing as the mountain trembles, and cover our ears as the sound of trumpets grow louder and louder...let us humble ourselves and covenant in advance, just like the Israelites did in 19:8, "We will do everything Yahweh has said."
Get ready, because He's about to deliver a new way to live.