Read: Psalm 99
Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! (v. 5)
We often think of holiness as “the absence of sin,” but when we speak of God’s holiness, we see it as so much more. Theologian Wayne Grudem writes that God’s holiness includes “both separation from evil and devotion to God’s own glory” (Systematic Theology, p. 220). Throughout the Bible, God’s holiness is intertwined with his glory.
And we certainly see this in Psalm 99. The psalmist presents us with a majestic God, enthroned and reigning, exalted by all the peoples of the earth. He is a glorious God, worthy of praise and worship! Many of the Lord’s qualities are praised here: his justice and his righteousness, his forgiveness and even his vengeance upon those who do wrong. But his most glorious attribute—the one that is repeated three times in this short psalm—is his holiness: “Holy is he!” (vv. 3, 5), and “For the Lord our God is holy!” (v. 9). God’s purity, separate from all evil, is in complete contrast to the sinfulness of humanity. We can only stand in awe when we contemplate his moral perfection. The call is to worship the Lord for all that he is—but especially for his holiness.
This will be the theme of our praise and our never-ending song throughout eternity. “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” the saints sing in Revelation 15. “For you alone are holy” (vv. 3-4). God’s glorious holiness will never cease to amaze and delight his people. —Laura N. Sweet
As you pray, adore God for his perfect and glorious holiness.
About the Author
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian schoolteacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
