The Holiness of God

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex 15:1,11) (KJV)

Holiness is something that is very misunderstood in our time. Not only is it misunderstood, there is often no attempt to understand what holiness is. Our text demonstrates to us, however, that holiness is of great import to those who worship the Lord. He, the Lord, is holy. Holiness is why we worship Him. He is not only holy, but glorious, majestic, and beautiful in holiness! This holiness is God’s worth. It is the reason we worship God.

What is meant by holiness? The basic meaning of holiness is “separateness”, or “apartness.” That’s interesting, isn’t it? God is separate, or apart; but from what? God is actually separate from all of us. He is in a class all His own. “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” (1 Sam 2:2) (KJV) God is alone in His class. There is none like our God. In fact, the Lord even made the statement that there is no comparison to Him. “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”( Isa 40:25) (KJV) “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?” (Isa 46:5) (KJV) The fact that God is holy means that there is no equal to Him, nor is there any comparison to Him. God’s holiness means that He is very other than we are. This is why we sin when we attempt to squeeze Him into our mold, or shape Him according to our ideas. God will not fit our mold. He will not be shaped by us. He is separate from us and will not come under our dominion. He is holy.

It would be proper to note that God is absolutely holy. The people of God are called to be holy, but we will never be holy as God is holy. We are to seek to walk in the footsteps of His holiness. This is why Peter said, “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15,16) (KJV) Sinful creatures will never be holy as the eternal Creator. We are to strive to be holy as He is holy in our behavior. Our lives should be separated from sin. Even in the resurrection when we receive perfect bodies, we are creatures who will never attain to the eternal, glorious holiness that belongs to our Creator/Redeemer. In other words, our holiness is limited. There is no limit to the holiness of God. In every facet of His being and nature God is set apart from all others. “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” (Ps 145:17) (KJV) In all He does God is holy. In fact, there would be no meaning to the word holy if God were not holy. Holy is His name. “Holy and reverend is his name.” (Ps 111:9) (KJV) “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa 57:15) (KJV) Thus we see that God is absolutely holy in every way.

Our text speaks of God’s holiness as being His glory. Altogether too often we think of God’s holiness in only one manner, and that is in relation to His wrath. To us that sometimes looks ugly. Yet the holiness of God is His glory and beauty. Holiness is His worth. Would a god be worthy of our praise if he were just a sinful, weak, and beggarly as you and I are? Would he be beautiful? No! We would have little or no respect for a god who was on our level. The reason the saint is drawn to God is that God is glorious in His holiness. It is no wonder that the Psalmist said, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” (Ps 27:4) (KJV)

Our text asks a question: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex 15:11) (KJV) Israel had very little knowledge of the true God. It is very likely that they worshipped idols down in Egypt. The triumph of the LORD at the Exodus was more than a victory over Pharaoh. It was a victory over the gods of Egypt (See Ex 12:12). As Israel exited the Red Sea and saw the waters close upon their enemies they knew that the God who had brought them out of bondage was different from all other gods. For this reason they sang and praised Him declaring that He was set apart from all others. There is none like Him. Their experience had proven that to them.

Included in this holiness of God would be His great power. Notice our text: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex 15:11) (KJV) The occasion is a grand occasion in which the Lord has delivered His people by His mighty power. For this purpose they praise Him and recognize His holiness. He alone is powerful. None other can compare to Him. He told Moses, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.” (Deut 32:39,40) (KJV) God is solitary in His holiness. There is no power like the power of God. He is indeed set apart from all creatures and all that may be called gods. “Who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” (Ps 89:6-9) (KJV)

As we speak of the holiness and power of God it is only logical for us to consider God’s sovereign holiness. When we speak of God’s sovereign holiness we mean that God alone rules as King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no authority apart from God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”( Rom 13:1) (KJV) This is the reason why Christians should obey every law that does not conflict with the word of God. God has ordained human government. God is the supreme ruler, and there is no authority apart from God. This is why it is called sovereign holiness. God is the ultimate ruler and there is none who is His equal in authority. Nebuchadnezzar ruled the entire known world, but after he was put out to pasture for seven years he realized this great truth. “At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Dan 4:34,35) (KJV) God’s is so holy and separate from us in His sovereignty that no one even has the authority to ask Him who He thinks He is, or what He thinks He is doing. God’s authority in this world is indeed a sovereign holiness. What a wonderful thing it would be for each of us if we would recognize this great truth and submit to Him.

There is one more thing that is necessary to remember about God’s holiness. It is an exclusive holiness. God’s holiness means that He will not share His glory with anyone. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isa 42:8) (KJV) This is why Joshua told the children of Israel, “Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” (Josh 24:19) (KJV) God is not an insecure God who is afraid that He will not have the ability and worth to maintain our love and affection. God is the holy God who is worthy of our undivided love and affection (hence the command to love Him with all of our heart, etc. Deut 6:4,5). It would be sin for God to be denied the worship that is His due. He is righteously jealous. He deserves our love. To give it to another who is not worthy is to scorn the glory and worth of God. The gods of the heathen may allow them to worship multiple gods. Our God is holy and jealous. He is not like the idols. He is real. He is alive. He is holy and is to be worshipped and loved above all others.

The Holy God of Isaiah Chapter Six

Any study of the holiness of God must include the sixth chapter of Isaiah. Though we have looked at quite a few things about the holiness of God, there is no fuller description and picture of God’s holiness than is found in this chapter. Let us consider the first seven verses.

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isa 6:1-7) (KJV)

Isaiah was living in turbulent times. Their great king had died. Uzziah had sinned (See 2Chron 26) and died the death of a leper. Godly, separated leadership had failed in holiness and in strength. Uzziah was no longer their holy king. To Isaiah it probably appeared that all was lost. It was at this time that the LORD appeared unto him. (We would do well to note that John declared that this was an appearance of Jesus John 12:37-41) The seraphim cried “holy, holy, holy” at the sight of the Lord. The first thing that Isaiah noticed about God was that He was high and lifted up on a throne. He was shown by God that, although Uzziah had failed, God in His holiness still reigned. He is still sovereign in His holiness. There is a King who is above all kings. Rulers may come and rulers may go, but unlike the rulers of this world our holy God is King forever. “The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.” (Ps 29:10) (KJV)

The seraphim lifted up their voices and praised God saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isa 6:3) (KJV) God’s holiness is manifest everywhere you look. The glory of God is visible to us. Holiness is what makes God glorious. Holiness is His majestic beauty and shines forth throughout the whole world. This is why the Psalmist declared “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Ps 19:1-3) (KJV) There is no other god who fills Heaven and Earth. There is certainly no other god who fills Heaven and Earth with his own beauty. Our God does both. Wherever you look, there is the beauty of God shining forth. Even in our sinful, fallen, corrupt, polluted world the beauty of God is seen. This sets the Lord apart from everyone, and everything, else.

God’s holiness also means that there is a distance between God and man. God is far above us. It is not that God is not interested in us. In fact, we know that God is very active in this world. The distance comes because man is unholy. Sinful man cannot see God in His fullness. That is why the LORD told Moses, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Ex 33:20) (KJV) Paul spoke to Timothy of our God and said that “ in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Tim 6:15,16) (KJV) Man cannot see God in peace. Sin has put us under wrath. Thankfully, just as Isaiah was cleansed we can be cleansed. Jesus satisfied the righteous demands of our holy God so that we could be made at peace with God. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” ( Isa 53:6,10,11) (KJV) We now have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” (Heb 10:19,20) (KJV) Yet, even today there is a certain distance between God and man. Jesus, the glorious God of Isaiah chapter six, was never seen in the fullness of His glory. Someday, however, that will change. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) (KJV)

God’s Holiness, Our Response

Finally, what should our response to God’s holiness be? There is no doubt that we are to enjoy it. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Ps 37:4) (KJV) We should be thankful that God is holy. If He were like men, or like other gods, we would be left alone to cry and die in this cruel world. Yet, He is holy. For this we should thank Him. “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Ps 30:4,5) (KJV)

Another response that is too often neglected in our day is the response of humble contrition. Isaiah, when confronted with the holiness of God said, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isa 6:5) (KJV) What a wonderful blessing it would be to us if we would recognize how terribly sinful we are and humiliate ourselves in the presence of God. God promises to bless the person whose heart is broken before His holiness. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa 57:15) (KJV)

“ The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” (Ps 97) ( KJV)

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