Day3
Week10
1Samuel
The people of Beit-Shemesh asked, “Who can stand before Adonai, this holy God? To whom can we send it, to get it away from us?” They sent messengers to the people living in Kiryat-Ye‘arim with this message: “The P’lishtim have returned the ark of Adonai. Come down and bring it back up with you.””
Sh'mu'el Alef (1 Sa) 6:20-21 CJB
Cross references
2 Samuel 24:24
Numbers 4:15
Are You Asking The Right Questions?
The men of Beth Shemesh sinned by not only touching the ark, but also looking into it inappropriately.
a. Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?
In their disrespect for God, the men of Beth Shemesh offended the holiness of the LORD.
Now they knew the LORD was holy, but it didn’t make them want to be closer to God.
It made them want to distance themselves from God.
The primary idea behind holiness is not moral purity (though the idea includes moral purity), but it is the idea of apartness, of being set apart – that God is separate, different from His creation, both in His essential nature and in the perfection of His attributes.
When men encounter the holiness of God, they are not necessarily attracted to it.
When Peter saw the holy power of Jesus he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8).
When the disciples on another occasion saw the holy Jesus shining out at the transfiguration, they were greatly afraid (Matthew 17:6).
God, through Jesus has set us apart to be in relationship with Him.
We are to shine brightly and attract others to Him by our love for them.
Action Step
Are you running from or to the Holiness of God?
Examine yourself through the lens of Holy Spirit.
Allow Him to ask the questions.
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