The Attribute of Attributes

Saturday - April 23rd

Scripture to Read Today: Isaiah 6:1-8

Holy - Perfectly pure, distinct, separate, in a moral class of one's own

The Names and Attributes of God

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"Holy, holy, holy

is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is

full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3

God called the prophet Isaiah through a vision of the throne room of Heaven. Isaiah chapter six records the divine encounter that would shape the rest of Isaiah's life. Isaiah saw the throne of God surrounded by angels. The angels cried out in echo of one another, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."

With this amazing scene overwhelming Isaiah in both what he saw and what he heard, the voice of the Lord thundered, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Isaiah responded clearly and concisely, "Here am I. Send me!" God would indeed send Isaiah to Abraham's descendants to warn them of the judgment they faced due to their rebellion and waywardness.

The prophet went with the divine warning, understanding more than anyone in his generation the holiness of God. In the visionary call, Isaiah was directly exposed to what the old theologians called "the attribute of attributes" - God's holiness.

Throughout the final days of April, our daily Take5 devotionals have been exploring names and attributes (or characteristics) of God. One for each day. The names and attributes I have chosen to use parallel a simple but helpful resource provided by the Navigators Ministry called "30 Days of Praying the Names and Attributes of God." Today we come to the attribute of Holy. God is Holy.

To say that God is Holy is to say that He is perfectly pure, distinct, separate, in a moral class of His own. The reason theologians have referenced "Holy" as "the attribute of attributes" is that it speaks of God's moral purity and how it encompasses His "apartness" or "distinctness." His holiness sets Him apart from everything in creation, including humanity.

R.C. Sproul helped bring understanding as to the uniqueness of God being Holy when he wrote:

"On a handful of occasions, the Bible repeats something to the third degree. To mention something three times in succession is to elevate it to the superlative degree. Only once in Scripture is an attribute of God elevated to the third degree. The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love or mercy, mercy, mercy or justice, justice, justice."

That God is "Holy, Holy, Holy," and "the whole earth is full of His glory" should make the Son of God's incarnation that much more profound and meaningful to us. That Holy God Who gave Isaiah eyes to see and ears to hear Heaven's throne room came to us. The Holy One entered humanity to suffer and die for your sin and my sin. He Who is totally apart and distinct from us in His moral being took your guilt and shame and my guilt and shame on Himself as He hung on the cross. That is the highest form of love and grace. Only the One Who is Holy, Holy, Holy, could accomplish our salvation for us.

Today, be reminded that the Holy God of the universe came to earth to secure your redemption. He came to earth, so you could walk with Him now and in the life to come. Like the angels gathered around Heaven's throne, let us fall down and cry out, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty. The earth is full of His glory."

Perhaps you know the great old Hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy." Click Here and sing along as it is sung by a gathering of believers. If it is not familiar to you, listen as the words Isaiah heard from the angels in Heaven are sung by a congregation of God's family.

The Holy God of the universe wants to walk with you today! How awesome is that!