Hello all,
In this thread I'd like to talk specifically about the holiness of God. I think that the Torah in particular has some striking statements about how holy God is. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that many of them are quite shocking:
"13 He shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die." Lev. 16:13 (NASB)
This passage is talking about Yom Kippur, which is apparently the only time someone can enter the Holy of Holies. On that day only the High Priest is allowed to enter, and even he has to use the incense to make a cloud that covers the mercy seat or else he will die. Other passages in the Torah indicate that when the ark was carried through the wilderness to even look at the ark meant death:
"17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 “Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. 19 But do this to them that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load; 20 but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.”" Num. 4:17-20 (NASB)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ark.html
Another striking thing that the Torah teaches us is the separation between holy and profane (or unholy). It seems that whenever the holy or profane come into contact, one has to be destroyed. This is perfectly demonstrated when God descends upon Mount Sinai:
"10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”" Ex. 19:10-13 (NASB)
"21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.”" Ex. 19:21-22 (NASB)
Now, in the New Testament we also have passages that speak about the indescribable holiness of God:
"8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”" Rev. 4:8 (NASB)
"16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." 1 Tim. 6:16 (NASB)
...and there are also many other passages. Thoughts?
In this thread I'd like to talk specifically about the holiness of God. I think that the Torah in particular has some striking statements about how holy God is. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that many of them are quite shocking:
"13 He shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die." Lev. 16:13 (NASB)
This passage is talking about Yom Kippur, which is apparently the only time someone can enter the Holy of Holies. On that day only the High Priest is allowed to enter, and even he has to use the incense to make a cloud that covers the mercy seat or else he will die. Other passages in the Torah indicate that when the ark was carried through the wilderness to even look at the ark meant death:
"17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 “Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. 19 But do this to them that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load; 20 but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.”" Num. 4:17-20 (NASB)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ark.html
Another striking thing that the Torah teaches us is the separation between holy and profane (or unholy). It seems that whenever the holy or profane come into contact, one has to be destroyed. This is perfectly demonstrated when God descends upon Mount Sinai:
"10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”" Ex. 19:10-13 (NASB)
"21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.”" Ex. 19:21-22 (NASB)
Now, in the New Testament we also have passages that speak about the indescribable holiness of God:
"8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”" Rev. 4:8 (NASB)
"16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." 1 Tim. 6:16 (NASB)
...and there are also many other passages. Thoughts?