God our Holy Father
by Pastor Noel Due
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Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy! (Psalm 99:9)
Psalm 99 is a song of praise to God, the Holy One. The holiness of God is his ‘otherness’, his complete transcendence and utterly incomparable nature. The psalm emphasises his holiness in three different ways.
He is holy because he is the Great King, ruling over all creation and nations (verses 1–3). He is holy because he establishes justice and justifies his people (verses 4,5). He is holy because he hears the prayers of his people, speaks to them, forgives their misdeeds, and gives them the gift of worship at his temple (verses 6–9).
The psalm thus moves from his transcendence to his nearness, justice to his mercy, exalted glory to his approachable presence. God’s holiness is not in one thing or the other but all of them.
And, when considered in this way, his holiness embraces us in every area of life. There is no circumstance or place over which he does not claim sovereignty. No injustice will not be put right in the end. There is no circumstance in which we cannot call on him in prayer. He is present with, and in, worship. He is forever the Lord who hears and answers.
God’s holiness is not just the quality of his being but an active reality in our lives. He is always holy, and as such, his every action is holy towards us – for our transformation. As we extol him, he remakes us, even if a lot of that is hidden from our eyes until we finally see him face to face.
We are indeed ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s precious possession – so that we may proclaim the mighty acts of God, who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light’.
Most Holy Father, thank you for the active and eternal reality of your holiness. Thank you for the overarching embrace of your holiness in every area of life. Thank you that your purposes will be established in all creation. Thank you for the guarantee in Jesus that you love justice and have brought it on the earth. Thank you that as we worship you, you transform us into your holy likeness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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