God Is Holy

Scripture:

1 Samuel 16:20
Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD,
this holy God?” they cried out.

Observation:

After the Ark of the LORD was captured by the Philistines, the LORD inflicted plagues of tumors upon the Philistine people wherever their leaders sent the Ark. So in their fear, these kings sent the Ark back to Israel. But while the Ark of the LORD was in Beth-shemesh, seventy Israelite men looked into the Ark, and the LORD promptly killed them. So the people mourned, crying out, “who is able to stand in the presence of the holy God?”
Our Mighty and Holy God cannot be in the presence of anything that is not holy as He. Because His holiness is so pure and so good no human being, in their fallen state, is able to stand before Him and live. And it is because of this that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to intervene—so that our lives would be hidden in the One who is without sin and perfectly holy (Colossians 3:3). What an amazing gift this is, my friends, to be able to come before the living God (in our sinful and rebellious state) with all our concerns and questions and not be struck down or ignored, but forgiven and loved!

Application:

We have in our Lord, Christ Jesus, the only Way to God the Father. The world will tell you differently and try to convince you otherwise, but Christ Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). There is no other way, dear friends, that we will find face to Face fellowship and everlasting life with God other than entering heaven’s Most Holy Place with the Most Holy One, who is no longer separated from us because of the precious blood of Christ, our Lord and Savior (Hebrews 10:19-2o).

Prayer:

What an awesome blessing it is, dear LORD, that we can confidently and fearlessly come before you with all our sin and failures. Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace and for the Hope we have in You. I pray that You will help me remain strong in my faith and that You will touch my life in ways that bring you honor and glory.