Psalm 29: 2: Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Exodus 15:11: “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders”?
Beauty is something to behold and the beauty talked about in this passage is a description of Holiness which is the essence of God’s Being.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it is tangible. Also, the object of beauty does not diminish meaning the more you behold it, the more you see its alluring beauty. When we talk of beauty, we talk of an object without blemish, without flaw, something that is perfect. Another word we can substitute for beauty is perfection.
The understanding of beauty diminishes with succeeding generations it seems. For instance, after Queen Vashti fell out of favor with King Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther and a new queen was to be sought for the king, young beautiful virgins of which Esther was part were assembled from all the provinces unto Shushan the palace (Esther 2: 1-18). Twelve months were used in preparing these young beautiful virgins before they could make their appearances to the king. They were to be prepared and made flawless, without blemish for the king. They understood beauty, to them, beauty is a priceless object and so they gave it the utmost attention.
Now let us come home and consider the surpassing beauty of Holiness described in the scripture. Men are held in sinful sway by the allure of this world and its orgies, debauchery, revellings, and the like because they live with it, learn it, and get socialized into it. As we were once held in sinful sway by the things of this world, now as believers, Apostle Paul admonished that we should reckon ourselves as slaves to righteousness (Romans6:19). Holiness which, is of God has more beauty, therefore as believers we must give it our utmost attention for without it we cannot see the LORD. If we give ourselves to behold it long enough, live with it, live by it, and get schooled in it, we will see it as far better and enduring beauty. The prodigal son left home to make friends with the world. No sooner than this, after squandering all that he had did he realize that the world had nothing to offer him, it was a cruel experience. He however came to himself and returned home where he was unconditionally welcomed into his father’s love. The beauty of His father’s love was enduring because it was all the while waiting for him despite his prodigality.
What is Holiness? There are two distinctions of Holiness we can draw. The first distinction pertains to God’s righteous relationship with us which He wants us to have and to demonstrate similar conduct with one another. Our Lord Jesus in one of His teachings said if you bring an offering (a form of worship) and you remember your brother has an ought against you, He said leave your offering at the altar go find your brother and reconcile with him (Mathew5: 23-24). Worship is not true when there is no harmony, this was the critical lesson of the Lord’s teaching for harmony or unity is the hallmark of the Spirit. Worship is beautiful when the body of worshipers can lift up holy hands, with no offense, wrath, or spot. Holiness gives quality to our worship. Any worship of God outside harmony with God’s nature and outside harmony with others that is, being at peace with others, is not acceptable, we cannot be morally bankrupt towards God and towards one another and expect to be accepted by God.
God seeks people who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth, where all have the same mind, the same heart, the same holy conduct towards one another.
The other distinction of Holiness pertains to His Being, who God is. This speaks of His glory, His uniqueness which is His alone. In this and for this, He is glorious in Holiness. God’s Holiness stands Him out as God alone and by which all of His creation must relate to Him, just like He said in Leviticus chapter 10. This is the glory, the majesty of His Being. In Leviticus chapter 10 verse 3 during the unfortunate incident where Aaron’s two sons offered up the strange fire (for the fire must come from His presence alone) and died, God spake to Moses saying: ” By those who came near Me, I must be regarded as Holy and before all people I must be glorified “.
This level of Holiness calls for explicit obedience to instructions, and to details because we are relating to God.
Unlike the first distinction of Holiness which pertains to a relationship wherein we relate with others in order to bring a fitting praises to God, this level pertains to worship, one wherein we are sanctifying God before everyone.
The tabernacle of Moses is instructive here where we have the holy place and the holy of holies. Before the priest could enter the holy place, he must wash himself, signifying purification from sin and the priest is clothed in a special robe (robe of righteousness). There was harmony in the order of service and in the regalia adorned by the priests. In principle, it was God’s call to a nation to purify themselves and be clothed with His righteousness like the priest. The essence is so their service, their worship might be pleasing (beautiful) like the aroma of a burnt offering and the sweet incense. In Christ, we all are a royal priesthood meant to offer acceptable spiritual worship to God.
But the Holy of Holies is entered in by the High Priest alone and that once in a year, for therein in the Holy of Holies dwells the Glory of God, the Presence of God. Everything must be done according to instructions or else the high priest is stricken dead and will have to be pulled out by the rope attached to his leg. But where everything is done in explicit obedience, (we come into God’s presence on His own terms, we must give Him His fear and His reverence) the high priest comes in within the veil and has an encounter with God’s glory, the glory of His Holiness, and he brings back blessings to the nation for another year.
But thanks be to God, in Christ Jesus we have a High Priest, not made after the fashion of the levitical priesthood, and who had gone through the veil before us that by Him and in Him, we may enter into the Holy of Holies.
