Scripture reading: Isaiah 6:1–8

The Beauty of Holiness

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty . . . (Isaiah 6:3–4)

 

Systematic theology books often begin with a discussion of the attributes of God. Until we understand God for who he truly is, all our efforts to know him and worship him will be off center. Who is this God we worship? What is he like in the essential core of his being? Which attribute is central? Is it power? Perhaps love? Maybe justice? What about wisdom? The way we answer this question has enormous implications for how we understand both who God is and what his purposes are for us and the world. For Isaiah, enlightenment came when he grasped the reality that God was holy. Not just holy, but holy, holy, holy! The three-fold repetition expressed the Hebrew superlative. This vision of God changed everything for Isaiah. From this point onward, all the other attributes of God would need to be understood in the light of this essential core: God is holy power, holy love, holy wisdom, holy justice, etc. The one we worship is indeed the Holy One.

Holiness denotes both God’s otherness as well as his moral purity. He is transcendent, other than, apart from the common. He cannot be explained by categories of this world. But more than this, he is morally pure. He is perfect in goodness. His eyes are too pure to look on evil; he cannot tolerate wrong (Hab. 1:13). Today, as you worship the Holy One, may what happened to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1–7) happen to you:

May the awesomeness of God’s holiness humble your pride. I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted . . . the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke (vv. 1–4). As you worship, let the vision of his majesty drown out all petty notions of your own self-importance. Let the awareness of his moral perfection work like a spiritual disinfectant to cleanse out all silly notions of your own righteousness. He alone is holy. You aren’t. So, humble yourself before him.

May the penetrating power of God’s holiness expose your sin. Many today seem to regard “worship” as energizing, inspiring, or even fun. But for Isaiah, it was an experience of sheer terror. Woe to me! I am ruined! (v. 6). The light of God’s holiness exposed his sin. There was nowhere to hide. When we worship the Holy One, it is not just God we see but ourselves! And the mirror he holds before us reveals ugly things in our hearts and lives of which we were not even aware. In worship, everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:13).

May the contagion of God’s holiness transform your character. Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand . . .”See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (vv. 6–7). Isaiah’s sin did not pollute the throne room of heaven. Rather, God’s holiness purified Isaiah’s sinful heart. In worship, God longs to share his holiness with you. He exposes your sin only so he can heal it! Worship is the place where we learn how to obey his command: Be holy, because I am holy (I Pet. 1:16).

On the day of Pentecost, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on his disciples. That adjective “Holy” is attached to the word “Spirit” not only to remind us what kind of Spirit we are dealing with, but also, as importantly, to tell us what this Spirit intends to do. It informs us of why he came. He is Sanctifying Spirit, He has come to make us holy.

 

Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is.

The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness.

—Oswald Chambers

 

point to ponder • We become like the one we worship.

prayer focus • That the Holy Spirit would humble, expose, and transform worshippers during your church’s corporate worship.