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Thursday Devotion: GOD IS HOLY (PSALM 99)

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The phrase “God is holy” is mentioned three times in this particular psalm – verses 3, 5 and 9. As we are aware, any time that any word(s) is/are repeatedly being mentioned within a chapter, that is a way of emphasizing the importance of that phrase to the reader. This repeated phrase emphasizes that the main theme of this psalm is that “God is holy and He is to be exalted.”

The word “holy” means “set apart.” When we speak of God being holy, we mean that He is distinctly different from His creation. He is separate from everything that is sinful. He cannot tolerate anything that is sinful and evil. Holiness is the very nature of God. There is no trace of evil in his character and this is what distinguishes Him from all else. Only God is holy! Thus, when we say something is “holy,” we are saying that it is set apart from other things for sacred service. Likewise, when we say a person is “holy,” it means he/she is set apart for God’s will and purpose, they are set apart for His service.

• verses 1-3 described the Lord as one who reigns, sitting on His throne, and ruling all the nations. He is holy and worthy to be praised and exalted.

• verses 4-5 described Him as the just and righteous Judge, again affirming His holiness, and worthy of all praise and exaltation.

• verses 6-9 showed God having fellowship with people (Moses, Aaron & Samuel). Likewise, we too can enter into the same fellowship through Jesus. He hears us, forgives us, answers our prayers, and at the same time, He also disciplines us. He is indeed worthy of our praises and exaltation. He is our God and He is holy.

In 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV), it says, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” As believers, we are commanded to be “holy” as God is holy. We have been called to live “holy and blameless” before God (Ephesians 1:4).

To become holy isn’t something that we can strive to do on our own or something we can achieve by being good. This is not what Christ died to pay for. He died on the cross for our sins. He gave up his life to redeem us, to pay the price for our sins.

To live holy and blameless, we can start by acknowledging that we are sinners and repent of our sins, acknowledge that He is Lord and He is holy, meet with God daily, yearn to be in His presence and to hear from Him as He is the one who directs our path, study and understand His word, learn to walk in truth and unity, be Christlike in our words, deeds and responses. Amen.

Holy is the Lord God Almighty – Isaiah 6:3


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