God Unlimited #5 – God is Holy

In Psalm 139, after David reflects on God’s omniscience, God knows everything . . . God’s omnipresence, God is everywhere . . . God’s omnipotence, God can do anything – he considers God’s omni-righteousness, God is holy.

“If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:19-24).

This passage strikes us as unusual approach in understanding God’s holiness. Yet David is saying here: “Lord, as I align myself with you, I’m discovering that I hate evil just as much as you do.” David longs for God to confront and correct evil and injustice.

Then he pauses and adds: “And, God, while you’re confronting and correcting evil and injustice, deal with me too. Show me what you already know about me. Purify disturbing thoughts that lead me into sin.

“Anything that leads me away from you, remove it. Anything that hurts others, take it away from me. And lead me into the way of life that is right for all time. I want to reflect your righteous holiness.”

When we’re in the presence of Almighty God, we can become painfully aware of our own shortcomings and sins. We are sinful; God is holy. Sin can no more exist in the presence of God than darkness can exist in the presence of light.

So we acknowledge our unworthiness. We seek God’s mercy and grace. We align ourselves with God’s holiness.

In a cemetery not far from NYC is a headstone engraved with a single word: FORGIVEN. The message is simple and plain – without any name, or date of birth or death, or description. Only the solitary word FORGIVEN.

Our God is unlimited in knowledge, unlimited in place, unlimited in power, unlimited in righteousness. We fall down before him in worship. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me” (Psalm 139:6).

Action Step: What have you learned about God in this passage that will help you today?

~ Pastor Dave