2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
Leviticus 19:2
Holiness is the key attribute I see of God as I am reading the Bible. I am reading the Bible in chronological order. From Genesis to Revelation. I’ve now finished the Book of Leviticus and about to start reading the Book of Numbers.
But a key theme I’ve noticed reading from Genesis to Leviticus is God’s holiness and how anyone who walks with God there is a need to also live a life of holiness.
So what exactly is holiness?
The Hebrew word for Holiness is “qadash” – which means to be sanctified, consecrated, set apart from the world and worldliness.
Sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer.
For example, a pen is “sanctified” when used to write, eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose.
To consecrate means to cleanse from all sin and anything that is unclean in order to draw near to God and be in His presence. In Exodus 19:10-15 we see God asking the Israelites to consecrate themselves before He appeared to them.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
Exodus 19:10-15
God is holy and to approach the Lord we too must be holy, laying down our ways and obeying and honouring Gods ways and instructions.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be holy, help me to grow in understanding of your ways and walk in your instructions. I desire to draw close to you. Help me to rid anything that is preventing me from walking a life close to you. Help me to be holy like how you are holy. Amen!
Lastly, I want to take the time to wish everyone a very happy new year! May we all walk closer with the Lord in 2024! Pursuing a life of holiness. I look forward to writing more of my insight with you in the new year.
Signing off,
Faith With Petra 