The Beauty of Holiness

Psalms 96:9  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

The beauty of God’s holiness and the fear of the Lord go hand in hand. Even the holy angels that spend their existence in the presence of God declaring his holiness must cover their eyes before Him. When Moses was called to the burning bush, God told him to remove his feet because he was on holy ground and Moses “hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God (Exodus 3:5-6).”  There is a fear that is in all creatures when we come to the holy God. But the fear comes from the greatness of God, and that greatness of His holiness is beautiful. It is at the same time beautiful and fearful. God’s beautiful holiness is too much for any person to behold.

Holiness is the magnificence of every attribute. God could not be just without being holy. God could have ultimate strength, but could not be God without holy strength.

All of His attributes are seasoned by holiness.

His strength is His holy arm, (Isaiah 52:10).

All his works and ways are holy ways  (Psalm 145:17).

His promises are holy promises (Psalm 105:42).

His law and commandments are holy (Rom 7:12).

His calling is a holy calling (II Timothy 1:9).

His mercy is holy, His Justice is holy, His sovereignty is holy, His omnipresence is holy

His love is holy love His mercy is holy mercy.

God’s holiness is an eternal holiness. God’s Holiness is beautiful, and all His attributes are beautiful.  They are pure, perfect and right in every way.  Beauty is this sinful world is fleeting.  The young girl who stops traffic with her beauty, will in the process of time, loose her beautiful appearance.  The young man, whose beauty is his strength and athleticism, will in the process of time, become slow and weak because of sin.  Beauty in mankind is always fading because of the corruption of sin.  But God, who is eternally holy, never fades, His holiness never lacks luster or beauty. What is pure now will be forever.

God cannot sin because is opposed to who He is.

God cannot sin in ignorance; He is infinitely wise.

God cannot sin is weakness; He is infinitely strong.

God cannot sin in wickedness; He is infinitely good.

God cannot sin unjustly; He is infinitely just.

God cannot sin in thought; He is infinitely pure.

God cannot sin in rebellion; He is infinitely unchangeable.

God cannot sin by being deceived; He is infinitely omniscient.

God has called us to be holy. That is the great end of our salvation.  Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. What end were we chosen? That we would be holy. Negatively put, we are without blame, and positively put, holy. That is the fearful and beautiful hope and should be the object of every child of God to pursue holiness.

Psalms 96:9  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Grace & peace,
Doug