Holy – Answering Problems with Correctly Understanding this Word (pt.2)

—(Part 23 of Seeing Jesus in the O.T.)

  • Andrew Fountain – June 6, 2021

 
 
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Goal:

To deepen our understanding of this incredibly important word, and clear up some misunderstandings.

Holy – Answering Problems with Correctly Understanding this Word (pt.2)

Intro: Source of Confusion

  1. Moses’s Failure
  2. Holy Objects and Places
  3. A Special Possession

The Hebrew word for Holy is
qâdôsh.

  • Old English translation based on the old Norse: heilagr means “healthy”, “whole”

R. C. Sproul

The primary meaning of holy is “separate.” It comes from an ancient word meaning “to cut,” or “to separate.”
To translate this basic meaning into contemporary language would be to use the phrase “a cut apart.”…
It points to the infinite distance that separates Him from every creature.

(Sproul, The Holiness of God 1985, p.37)

God’s Holiness

His totally devotion to his people, in faithful love and compassion.

Holy – Answering Problems with Correctly Understanding this Word (pt.2)

Intro: Source of Confusion

  1. Moses’s Failure
  2. Holy Objects and Places
  3. A Special Possession

Why was Moses not allowed to lead the people into the land?

Numbers 20:
Moses’ failure

  1. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to defend my holiness in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this people into the land that I promised them.”

Moses had already been told what to do
in Numbers 17

  1. On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.…
  2. And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me…”

Numbers 20 Moses’ failure

  1. And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
  2. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
  3. And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

Numbers 20 Moses’ failure

  1. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to defend my holiness in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this people into the land that I promised them.”
  2. These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.

Holy – Answering Problems with Correctly Understanding this Word (pt.2)

Intro: Source of Confusion

  1. Moses’s Failure
  2. Holy Objects and Places
  3. A Special Possession

Holiness ≠ Cleanness

Clean Unclean

Holiness ≠ Cleanness

Holy ?
Clean Unclean

Holiness ≠ Cleanness

Holy Ordinary
Clean Unclean

Leviticus 10

  1. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.
  2. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Holy things and places

  • Only occurs within the “Old Covenant” (Sinai)
  • Abraham could dress how he wanted and use any fire
  • Even Moses could go “face to face” with God with no preparation
  • The Sinai Covenant is an object lesson, a symbolic portrayal of what needed to be done to reconcile humanity
  • The whole system was deliberately hard and imperfect because it’s job was to point forward to Jesus.

Holy – Answering Problems with Correctly Understanding this Word (pt.2)

Intro: Source of Confusion

  1. Moses’s Failure
  2. Holy Objects and Places
  3. A Special Possession

Exodus 19

  1. …you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples
  2. and you shall be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation

Exodus 3 – Holy Ground

  1. When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
  2. Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Our Holiness

  • For us to be holy is to be God’s treasured possession.
  • But we belong to him for a purpose, and that is to reflect his goodness and love to the universe
  • This adds another dimension to holiness

Our Holiness

  • 100% commitment to God
  • but this means commitment to the role he has given us.
  • This role is showing the core aspects of his character (faithful love and truth) to the universe.
  • Because of this, it will make demands on our lives

Be Holy!

  • Be passionately dedicated and 100% committed to God!
  • God is 100% committed to you,
  • so be 100% committed to him!
  • The world learns about God by watching you—so pay attention to what your life is communicating!