Our sermon this past Sunday focused on what it means to be holy.
After looking at a number of conclusions that come from a study of
holiness in both the Old and New Testaments, we presented a
definition. We said that something that is holy is used in the
worship of God and reflects His character. We noted that whether it
was a day, an animal, an article of the temple, nations, or people,
that everything that is holy has these two characteristics.
But what about God?
I mean, obviously, His character is His own and so He certainly
reflects His character and in that sense He is holy. But what about
that first idea? Are we to say that God worships Himself? Or is His
holiness in this sense somehow different or limited?
Well, I think it safe to say, that God's holiness isn't in any
way limited. Nor do I believe that it is necessary-nor even
prudent-for us to redefine words in order for us to make them fit a
picture of God that we have. God has communicated Himself in all
these different ways in words that we understand because they in
some way reflect Him. He is undoubtedly greater than the pictures
He presents of Himself in scripture-but He is never less than those
pictures.
So we can boldly say that God is holy because He perfectly
represents His own character. But He is also holy because He brings
Himself worship. What do I mean by that?
To worship something is to lift up and magnify - to bring glory
to something. Now, for us to worship anything or anyone other than
God is completely inappropriate. We have been created to rightly
lift up and magnify-to bring glory to God and God alone.
But God can bring glory to Himself.
Psalm 79:9 is a request for the help of God-but for the purpose
that God might bring glory to His own name. Jesus on multiple
occasions spoke of God the Father and the Holy Spirit glorifying
Him (
one example is here). And this self-glorification-vain in any
other context-is perfectly legitimate for God to magnify in Himself
since He deserves the glory that He radiates from Himself.
And so although I would be hesitant to say that God worships
Himself-the term worship is only appropriate between a creature and
Creator relationship-I would say that God does the primary task of
worship on a regular basis. He brings glory to Himself. And thus we
can still say that our definition of holiness applies-He brings
glory to Himself and shows His character.