(73) The Holiness of God - Introduction

Every once in a while, out of the sea of ordinary humanity, someone extraordinary emerges. As I contemplate history, some of the extraordinary people that come to mind include Augustine of Hippo, John Hus, John Wycliff, John Knox, John Calvin (I'm thinking about changing my name to John!), Martin Luther. As I think of individuals in modern history, I think of Abraham Lincoln, William Wilberforce, Charles Spurgeon, John Gresham Machen, Billy Graham, B. B. Warfield, J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, Martin Luther King Jr.. Currently, some of my picks would be John Piper, Al Mohler Jr., Millard Erickson, John MacArthur and others.

But each of these have one major thing in common. They are all common human beings. The similarities they have with the great sea of humanity far surpass the uniqueness of their splash in the ripples of time and human existence.

In Stark contrast to all of humanity is God. God is infinitely unique, one of a kind in every respect. This is what the essence of holiness is all about.

When we think of holiness, many believers think immediately of moral purity and the absence of sin. This is one aspect of holiness, but it is not the full picture.

It is in the Old Testament that we see the glory of God’s holiness unfold. The Hebrew word that is translated “holiness” is qodesh. The basic meaning of this word refers to being “marked off, withdrawn from common ordinary use” or “to separate.” Before we can understand holiness as it relates to God, we need to get a solid understanding of this concept through it’s usage in the Old Testament. As we look at this usage, an important emphasis emerges. Consider the following chart listing the usage of qodesh to describe people or things as “holy”.
 

This chart doesn’t quite fit with our traditional idea that holiness is simply a matter of moral purity. God is morally pure. People can be morally pure. But ground? Things? And why are there over three times as many references to inanimate objects rather than to God or people? Because holiness is broader than moral purity.

Qodesh is used overwhelmingly to speak of a thing or place (tabernacle, ground) that God designated or had made (articles, clothes, etc. for the Tabernacle) to be set apart from other things to be used exclusively for His purposes. Holiness at its core is about uniqueness, distinction.

With this root meaning of qodesh in mind we get a better understanding of the holiness of God. The holiness of God means that God is unique, truly and absolutely one of a kind, infinitely separated from all that is common or profane, different from all we know, different even than what we can conceive. God is so infinitely unique, so different, so one of a kind, that you and I cannot begin to understand all that is involved in His glorious character.

"To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?"

says the Holy One.

(Isaiah 40:25 NAU)

Next: (74)  The Holiness of Things