The Glory of Holiness

{Daily Selah}

In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah was given a amazing glimpse of the Lord upon His throne. He saw seraphims with 3 pairs of wings, flying around the throne, proclaiming the character of our God.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). 


It is interesting that the seraphim paired holiness and glory together in such a way. There are 2 completely different concepts, right? Or, are they?

Holiness is absolute moral purity. God's holiness is so pure, He cannot allow sin in His presence, which is why, when he saw God's throne high and lifted up, Isaiah cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips... for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 6:6). The holiness of God is more than simply the absence of impurity. Deuteronomy 32:4 gives us a little more insight into the absolute purity of God's character...

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

God's work is perfect, His ways are just, He is true and completely righteous in all His ways. But, what does that have to do with glory?

At first glance, one might think that glory and holiness have nothing to do with one another. Think about all that God has done, is doing and will do. He, our holy God, created the world in absolute perfection. When man sinned, the world became corrupt. Adam and Eve were evicted from the perfect garden God had placed them in because of disobedience. Their decision brought the curse of sin upon ever generation to follow. 

In Noah's day, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). 

The Bible gives us a glimpse into God's holy character in relating His judgement upon the world in Noah's day, later in Sodom and Gomorrah and upon the enemies of His chosen people. 

A price must be paid for sin. You and I are sinners fully deserving of hell. If God didn't demand sin to be atoned for He would cease to be holy. When we think of God sending His Son to die for the sins of the world, we tend to relate that sacrifice with grace, mercy and love, which are also very important aspects of God's character. At Calvary, when the blood of Christ poured out upon the earth, God's holiness was also manifested. 

The seraphim declared, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). Very few people in this world give God the glory He deserves. God's glory, however, is not affected by the attitudes of human beings. His glory is expressed in His nature and character and in the ways He has, does and will deal with people throughout the ages.  The earth is filled with His glory because God has made the holiness of His character known in all the earth. 

God's glory and holiness are inseparable. His glory is the essence of His purity. His purity is the essence of His glory. God says, "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 20:7). Why does God require His people to be holy? Because we were created in His image to give Him glory. 

Ephesians 5:1 says, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children..." The chapter goes on to list sinful behaviors we are to avoid, as the followers and children of God. We can sometimes try to excuse ourselves by saying, "Well, I have to battle with my flesh. I won't be perfect this side of heaven." No, we won't, but is that an excuse? I don't think so. Take a look at how Paul dealt with his flesh...

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). 

As we grow and mature in our faith in Christ, we are changed "from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Changed from one degree of glory to another, some translations render it, as we become more and more holy, as He is holy. This glory is not ours. The glory belongs to our God, Whose ways are "true and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:9). 

God, who is holy in all His ways, has told us to be holy because He is holy. His glory rests upon His holiness. His holiness is wrapped His glory. As we follow Him in holiness, His glory is revealed and proclaimed though us. 

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

The glory of holiness.  



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.