The majestic beauty of God’s holiness
Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? “You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. EXODUS 15:11-13 From the text, Moses was praising God’s uniqueness. Moses and those who sang this song repeated the phrase “who is like you.” The emphasis through this rhetorical questioning is the fact that God has no one like him. King Jehoshaphat of Judah appointed singers who will sing the phrase of God’s holiness. “After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21) Understanding the meaning of holiness should not be detached on how the word is used in the Bible. In the Old Testament it is used only in relation to God or what He has sanctified (made holy) or set apart. It refers to something being different and set apart from other things. In this sense God is holy because He is unlike anybody among His creations. “I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.” (Hosea 11:9). When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He set apart a plot of ground as ‘Holy” (Exodus 3:5). The temple that was built by King Solomon was holy because it could not be compared with other buildings for it was set apart for worship of God. When God called His people they were set apart so they could reflect the life of God. Usually, when you think of the word holiness, immediately you associate it with purity. This is fitting especially when you read from the Scriptures the embodiment of God’s holiness through Jesus Christ. It is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that you came to understand what holiness is all about. Holiness then is a sense of belonging to God. When a child of God lives his or her life reflecting the life of Christ, this is always good, right, and beautiful. Christ’s life in you will provide an incentive to do what is right before God. When life is surrendered in Christ, He will work wonders in you so you could rejoice in the power that is in you that is able to do what seemed to be impossible. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4, NKJV).
