January 17

Read: Psalms 99:2, 5, 9

O Lord my God, mine Holy One… Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity (Habakkuk 1:12-13).

God Is Holy

Why does the supreme importance of holiness impress itself upon those who study the Bible, and the work of God in the human spirit? The answer is to be found in the very nature of God himself.

God is holy. Holiness is an intrinsic part of His being. We sometimes speak of God’s holiness as His wholeness or completeness; there is nothing desirable that is missing from the character of God. But in His relationship to us we usually use the word to describe God’s moral goodness. He never desires wrong and never does wrong. The Bible assures us, “God cannot be tempted with evil” (James 1:13); He is holy. God never wishes to be dishonest and never acts dishonestly; He is holy. We always see our clearest picture of God when we are looking at the character of Christ. Of Him it is written, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Hebrews 1:9).

God desires only the best for every man and woman. He loves us sincerely because He is holy. Because sin blights and will eventually destroy all who remain sinners, God is utterly opposed to sin; He is holy. God is perfect righteousness and perfect love; that is what we mean by His holiness. As we meditate upon the kind of God whom we serve we sing with the Psalmist, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee!” (Psalms 31:19).

Holy, Holy, Holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee, Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy; There is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love, in purity.

— Reginald Heber