Do you remember Uzzah? He touched the ark of the covenant and died. “Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord burned and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died” 2 Samuel 6:6-7. Why did heContinue reading “Obedience, Holiness, Glory.”
Category Archives: holiness
David Asks God to Make Him Pure.
How much do you pray? Do you pray every day? For five minutes? Ten? Are any of your prayers unselfish? In Psalm 141, David prays unselfishly that God would make him more obedient, more pure-hearted, and more pleasing to God. “Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of myContinue reading “David Asks God to Make Him Pure.”
Bald Samson.
God called His people to be different. Holy. Set apart. A “peculiar people.” The nation followed complex food laws. They circumcised every male child. They sacrificed animals. They never worked on Saturday. Sometimes God’s “Peculiar People” must have felt peculiar. Within Israel, there were individuals whose lives were even more peculiar: Levites, priests, and NaziritesContinue reading “Bald Samson.”
Why Do We Obey?
God provides reasons to obey His laws. Most obvious? To avoid punishment. Consider: These punishments are SEVERE and are a warning that God takes them seriously. He knows we need the fear of consequences. When we are tempted, sometimes only the fear of horrible consequences can stop us. But as we grow in Christ, aContinue reading “Why Do We Obey?”
Boundaries.
Throughout Leviticus, God provides laws that should not have been necessary. In 17:15, He says don’t eat roadkill (tempting, right?): “Every person … who eats an animal that died or was mauled by wild beasts… will be unclean.” God is realistic—He knows people will take things too far and push the boundaries. The same isContinue reading “Boundaries.”
Worship Means Recognizing God’s Holiness.
“Holy” means “other.” God is OTHER than us, He is different, He is perfect. He embodies TOTAL TRUTH and PERFECT PURITY. He must be FEARED and RESPECTED. After a lifetime witnessing miracles, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu were ordained as priests through a week-long process of sacrifices. How did they respond? “Now Nadab and AbihuContinue reading “Worship Means Recognizing God’s Holiness.”
Mercy and Holiness.
What if your son treated a loaded gun like a toy? What would you do? Some things require an absolutely sober seriousness, right? It’s not about the child, but the NATURE OF THE OBJECT. Guns, by nature, command sobriety and respect. They are DIFFERENT than other things. They are SET APART. Aaron’s sons brought “unauthorizedContinue reading “Mercy and Holiness.”
Would You Stop for the Burning Bush?
While Moses was shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep, he saw a bush that was burning, but not burning up. Moses said “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight…!” Exodus 3:2-4. Burning but not burning up is an indication of holiness. This was a special fire, a holy fire, a fire that lit up theContinue reading “Would You Stop for the Burning Bush?”
Household Words: 