“And He (God) said to me, ‘Son of man, this is the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name.” Ezekiel 43:7
When the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, when Moses was about eighty years old, the first thing He said to Moses, after calling his name twice was: “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5) God first spoke to Moses, not concerning his calling or mission, but of His holiness. Why? The great and consistent testimony throughout Scripture concerning the nature and person of God, and the constant proclamation in heaven as revealed in Isaiah’s day, and stretching into the present time, and beyond into eternity is this, that God, the Maker of heaven and earth, and the sole Redeemer of men in Christ by the Spirit, is absolutely, and unchangingly holy. In Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in heaven, seated upon His throne, he heard the seraphim crying out to one another as they flew, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Is. 6:3) In the book of Revelation, John the Apostle gazed into heaven also to see God sitting upon His throne, majestic in power and authority, sovereign in all of His ways and wisdom. It was then that he saw also “living creatures” who did not rest day and night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.!” (Rev. 4:8) Not only were the two visions of God similar in that God was seated upon His eternal throne, but both were characterized, by the angelic, constant praise of the Lord God as being holy. This dominant, perpetual theme of heaven, which will have its effect on the things of earth, never changes, never diminishes in its truth and power. Not only all creatures in heaven, and every person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, live in the worship of God in His power and authority, His goodness and love, but the revelation of His constant holiness overwhelmingly permeates all else, for there is no one, and no thing that compares with Him as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer in life. He is the sole provider of salvation for sinful men, and the unique and only sovereign who not only provides a way for men to be saved, but the One who is the eternal Keeper of all who would respond to His call to turn from all that is not of Him, to trust Him fully for eternal salvation. The fact and eternal truth of God being holy, is the primary reason for Him being all else, for He is separate from creation, and certainly from sin, Satan, and this world system.
After Joshua, and the people of Israel had crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land, when they were camped near the city of Jericho, the Lord revealed Himself to Joshua. He came as a Man with a sword drawn in His hand. (Josh. 5:13) He identified Himself by saying to Joshua: “…as the Commander (or Captain) of the army of the Lord, I have now come.” Joshua then falls at His feet, worships, and then says to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” This Commander of the Lord’s army did not speak to Joshua of plans, projects, and the potential of the conquest of Canaan. He spoke to him of God’s holiness, for He said: “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.”
When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, He instructed them to begin in this manner: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (Matt. 6:9) The word “hallowed” means to treat as holy, sacred, and revered. Christ’s call is first for man to worship God in His holiness.
Dear Father, Show us Your holiness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.