The objective of this lesson: to focus awareness on the word "holy"
If a person becomes a Bible student, he/she is quickly introduced to the word "holy." Moses stood on "holy" ground (Exodus 3:5). As soon as the Israelites left Egypt, the use of the word "holy" explodes. There are "holy" assemblies (Exodus 12:16); a "holy" habitation (Exodus 15:13); "holy" sabbaths (Exodus 16:23; Exodus 20:8,11); a "holy" nation or people (Exodus 19:6; 2:31); a "holy" place (Exodus 26:33,34); "holy" clothing (Exodus 28:2,4); a "holy" seal (Exodus 28:36); "holy" things (Exodus 38:28); "holy" meals (Exodus 29:31-34); "holy" anointing oil (Exodus 30:25); etc. And that is merely the beginning!
Help students deepen their awareness that the word "holy" is an important word in scripture.
Leviticus discussed Israel's sacrificial offerings. This writing uses the word "holy" frequently. Numbers made frequent use of "holy." In fact, the word "holy" also appears in Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and in the major and minor prophets [numerous times!]. It also appears in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, 1 John, Jude, and Revelation.
Help students realize they will encounter the word "holy" throughout scripture. They need to note its frequent occurrence.
Just from its numerous appearances and wide usage in scripture, "holy" obviously is an important word that reflects an important concept. Does the word "holy" have more than one usage? Yes. It can speak of physical "things"; it can speak of God's people; it can speak of God's Spirit; it can speak of God Himself. Obviously, the word reflects concepts God's people must understand if they are to relate to God and grasp His will. Even with a "foggy" understanding of "holy," Christians should realize unholiness prevents closeness to holiness. That which is "holy" is as distinct from that which is "unholy" as light is distinct from darkness.
While the word "holy" is used in a variety of ways in many different contexts, all those words are related to a single, basic concept [lesson two will focus on the concept]. There is a distinct, significant contrast between that which is "holy" and that which is "unholy." Knowing that distinction is critically important to understanding God, God's will, and ourselves.
To begin our understanding of holiness as a concept, we need to establish a context. The context should provide a contrast that should help as we focus on the concept of "holy."
The following four understandings establish a context for the concept of holy. In this lesson, particular attention should be given to understanding # 4.
Understanding # 1: The "holy" God brought into being everything that exists, including us. Originally, everything God made was "holy" as it reflected His goodness (Genesis 1:31). Human rebellion perverted that which was created "holy" by the "Holy" God into that which was "unholy" (Genesis 3). The slide from "holiness" to "unholiness" reached completion by Genesis 6:5,6 when evil fully reigned people.
The key to understanding # 1 is the realization that the Holy God created in order for the creation to reflect Him in His holiness. When the Holy God's creation was perverted by evil through the rebellion of humans, the Holy God's creation no longer reflected Him.
Understanding # 2: The "Holy" God Who was Sovereign was over His creation made to reflect Him [including humans made in God's own image (Genesis 1:27)]. When His creation rebelled against Him, two things happened. (1) God no longer was reflected in what He made. (2) God was no longer the recognized Sovereign in a perverted creation that rebelled against Him. That which God made to reflect His goodness reflected rebellious evil rather than God's holiness. Rebellion rejected God's sovereignty. God intended to restore His sovereignty through producing a people who, by choice, were devoted to reflecting God in their lives instead of evil.
The Holy God was Sovereign over His creation as long as the creation continued in holiness. Rebellion through deception produced by evil resulted in (1) creation becoming unholy and (2) the end of God's sovereignty over a rebellious creation. Among the things involved in rebellion is rejection of God's sovereignty.
Understanding # 3: God's restoration of His sovereignty followed a simple approach. Find one man who by choice devoted himself through faith to God. From that man produce a nation who, by choice, devoted themselves through faith to God. Through that nation send His son who provided an evil humanity the choice of being God's people. Inform all humanity that they had the choice of restoring God's sovereignty over them by devoting themselves to God's holiness instead of evil.
God wanted to do more than destroy a rebellious creation. He wanted to reestablish His sovereignty over His creation. He is accomplishing that restoration in a specific way that is based on Jesus' death and resurrection.
The man was Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3 and 15:6). The nation was Israel (see Genesis 15:13-16; 17:1-8; and Exodus 19:1-6). Jesus was God's Son who came through Israel (see Matthew 2:1-6). God's intent to share the good news of Jesus' resurrection with the world is reflected in Matthew 28:18-20 and Romans 1:16, 17.
This is God's simple approach to providing evil people an opportunity to accept His sovereignty again.
Understanding # 4: For God's intent to become reality, Israel had to learn God's holiness. Prior to release from Egypt, these descendants from Abraham served the Egyptians as slaves (Exodus 1:8-14). For generations these descendants from Abraham were exposed to and controlled by the many Egyptian gods. While these Israelite slaves recalled the God Who Abraham knew by continuing the circumcision rite, they powerfully were influenced by idolatry. The evidences of idolatry's influence in Israel are numerous--the golden calf in Exodus 32; the vicious cycle of Judges 2:11-23; the generations of idolatry in Israel; the Assyrian captivity; the Babylonian captivity.
It will be of great help and value if the teacher focuses the students on this fact: when the descendants of Abraham [the people of Israel] left Egypt, they did not understand the meaning of God being holy. Their concept of deity was more influenced by Egypt's idolatry than by understanding the holiness of the living God. Fundamentally, that is why they frequently turned to idolatry and away from God. The constant emphasis on "holy" in early Israel was God's attempt to teach them a concept they needed to grasp. If something belongs to God or is from God, it is exclusively God's. In their ignorance of the concept of holiness, they frequently thought they could honor God while (1) worshipping idols or (2) abusing people. God had a difficult time leading them to this understanding: such is impossible! To belong to the Holy God, one cannot honor any other gods! To belong to the Holy God, one cannot abuse people!
The Israelites delivered from Egypt were by choice to be God's unique people (Exodus 19:3-6). The first four of God's ten commandments given to Israel focused on God's holiness. To understand that God was holy, (1) they were to remember what God did for them and (2) recognize Him alone as God. All their responsibilities as individuals and a nation flowed from understanding that the Holy God must be respected in His holiness.
Honoring and praising God depends on knowing the meaning of God being holy and accepting God as holy.
God cannot be manipulated, and foolish is the person or the people who try. He is worthy of service. He is worthy of honor. He is worthy of respect. Why? Because He is holy! Willing obedience flows from an acceptance of God's holiness. Willing service to other people flows from an acceptance of God's holiness. The willingness to stand quietly to learn from God flows from an acceptance of God's holiness. Prayer (Matthew 6:9), surrender (Isaiah 6:1-8), the faith of joy (Exodus 15:1-21), and humility (Revelation 4:8-11 and 5:8-10) all flow from an acceptance of God's holiness.
The fundamental reason for obeying God and serving God is found in the understanding God is holy. God deserves obedience and service! He deserves it because He is holy! One who grasps the fact that God is holy wants to depend on God. That dependence is not a matter of necessity but a matter of desire.
It is because God is holy that we obey Him, honor Him, serve Him, trust Him, and praise Him. God deserves to be obeyed, honored, trusted, and praised! Why? Because He is holy! We do not surrender to God because we are forced to surrender. We do not in terror serve God's overwhelming, incredible power. We give God what He deserves! Why is God deserving? Because He is holy! The incredible deservedness of the Holy God is seen in Jesus' death and resurrection. It is in God's gift of Jesus that we see His love, patience, righteousness, and justification (Romans 3:21-26).
Human surrender to God only seeks to give God what He truly deserves!
It is in understanding God's holiness that we find motivation to surrender our lives. A failure to grasp the fact that God is holy produces a pitiful form of compliance that combines rebellion and surrender in fear of God's superior power.
The person who has no concept of God's holiness will live his/her life in defiance of and rebellion against God.
Thought Questions:
A key evidence is scripture's frequent use of the word "holy."
Understanding # 1: the Holy God is the Creator God.
Understanding # 2: the Holy God cannot be reflected in His creation when it rebels against Him.
Understanding # 3: the Holy God wished to give His rebellious creation opportunity to return to and accept His sovereignty.
Understanding # 4: when Israel left Egypt, they had a poor grasp of God's holiness.
In His holiness, God is worthy of human honor and surrender. The worthiness of God places God beyond human manipulation. The Holy God knows the motivations of His creation. He cannot be deceived by His creation.
We do so because God in Holiness deserves such.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 1