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!
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Thought Questions:
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 1