Daily Devotions
God Takes His Holiness Seriously
Reading for April 2nd: 2 Samuel 4-7
And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
2 Samuel 6:6-7
When you think of God, what is the first characteristic that comes to mind.
For many of us it would be God's love and grace. It's easy to understand why we would consider this God's primary characteristic. How could God give up his only Son for sinners like us? His love is unfathomable and it is one of God's most notable characteristics.
However I do not believe this would be God's primary characteristic. If you look at the overall picture of God painted for us throughout the Bible, it is God's holiness which stands out. Almost every book in the Bible, in some way or another emphasizes God's holiness. He is the creator of all things (Genesis). He is above all gods in a class by himself (Exodus). He is holy and expects the same from his people (Leviticus). He is the "Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah). He is holy and rules in the kingdoms of man (Daniel). He is "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Revelation).
We could go on. From the first book of the Bible to the last book, and every book in between, we see a God who is majestic, high and lifted up, full of glory, incomparable, etc.
God takes his holiness seriously. He does not treat those who profane his name lightly. There are a handful of examples where God executes an individual for sin in the Bible. In most of these examples it is because someone fails to recognize the holiness of God.
As you go about your day today, meditate on the holiness of God. Worship him in the beauty of holiness.
Great God and exalted Father in heaven, help us to see you in the splendor of your holiness. Give us reverence that we might worship you with our submission and obedience to all your will. Indeed, you are a consuming fire!
