What makes something holy? ∙

What makes something holy? ∙

I, the LORD, am holy. – Leviticus 20:26

Deuteronomy 26:18-19

18 The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.
19 And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as he promised.”

What does it mean to label something as sacred? At its core, sacredness refers to something that holds profound importance and significance for a group of people, often linked to religious or spiritual beliefs. It is something that is set apart, revered, or consecrated. Popular culture frequently explores the idea of sacredness. For instance, in the movie “Avatar,” the Na’vi—a species of 10-foot-tall sapient humanoids living on Pandora—reverence Eywa, a deity connected to all life. Their most sacred object is the Tree of Souls, which represents a profound link to their ancestors and the collective spirit of their world.

Similarly, countless Western films reference the sacred hunting grounds or burial sites of Native American tribes, emphasizing the deep spiritual connection these communities have with their land. Religious artifacts, buildings, and symbols, like temples or crosses, are often deemed sacred because they represent something much greater than their physical forms.

The Bible introduces a similar but distinctive perspective on sacredness. It ties the concept of holiness directly to God. God alone is absolutely holy, possessing intrinsic and unparalleled holiness that describes both His essence and character. His holiness is unique, incorporating purity, faultlessness, righteousness, and moral perfection. It stands in stark contrast to anything defiled or unclean, as highlighted in passages like Leviticus 11:44.

The Hebrew word translated as holy is qadosh. Qadosh has a sense of being “set apart,” “dedicated,” or “consecrated.” Holiness extends beyond righteousness and moral excellence. It involves being distinct and dedicated to God. Theologian Wayne Grudem stated, “God’s holiness means that he is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor.”

The Father unequivocally states that He is holy, emphasizing that He is utterly unique, distinct from all creation, different than all else, and in a class of His own. Apart from God, there is nothing inherently holy.

However, holiness is one of the Father’s communicable attributes, which He shares with people, things, places, and objects. Holiness, bestowed by God, means being set apart for His purposes.

An example of this is the Nation of Israel. God declares in Deuteronomy 14:2, “You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” The Israelites were chosen to be a holy nation, distinct from the surrounding cultures. They were to reflect God’s holiness in how they lived, showing that they belonged to Him and were dedicated to serving His purposes.

The Israelites were commanded to embody holiness as a sign of their unique relationship with the Creator. They were called to mirror His holiness, remaining distinct and dedicated to Him. At the core of this idea is the ultimate source of sacredness: God Himself. His holiness has the power to transform everything He designates as set apart.

Leviticus 19:2 Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

What makes something holy?

Holiness is not something inherent to a person, place, or thing—God confers it. Take the burning bush on Mount Sinai as an example. The ground surrounding the bush was just ordinary dirt—plain, unremarkable, and mundane. But when God’s presence rested there, everything changed. The Lord declared, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). His words alone transformed an ordinary patch of desert. He proclaimed it holy, and it became holy and set apart.

God imputes all holiness; nothing in creation starts as holy. What we now see as sacred—locations, objects, or people—was once common or profane. For example, Israel began as enslaved people, and the temple’s elements were once just raw materials. When God chooses something for His purpose, He makes it holy.

Holiness, then, is not a quality we can attain or possess on our own. It is a gift from God, a mark of His presence and purpose. By His decree, the mundane becomes meaningful, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the profane becomes sacred. The Father Himself brings purpose and significance to anything He chooses.

REFLECT & PRAY

Matthew 5:13-14

13 You are the salt of the earth
14 You are the light of the world

Father, You alone are intrinsically Holy. Yet by Your word, You have declared many things holy that were common and profane. Through Your transforming power, You bring purpose and significance to what was once mundane, including Your children, the sons and daughters of the King.

INSIGHT

Throughout Scripture, we see that holiness is often conferred when something is set apart for God’s service. What begins as ordinary is transformed for a divine purpose. Think of it like clay—nothing more than common dirt—being shaped by a skilled potter into something beautiful and valuable. “The Lord uses ordinary objects to do extraordinary things so that it can be plainly seen that the power is from God” (MacDonald).

Take Moses’ staff, for instance. It was just a simple piece of wood, a tool of a shepherd. But after God’s call, it became the rod of God (Exodus 4:2, 4:20 KJV). This ordinary shepherd’s staff was used to perform spectacular miracles, from the plagues in Egypt to the parting of the Red Sea. Of course, the staff itself held no innate power—the power came from God alone. Yet, God chose to use this simple object as an instrument of His divine will, demonstrating His ability to work wonders through the seemingly insignificant.

Another fascinating example is the Hebrew alphabet. At the time of Moses, the cultures surrounding the Hebrews used their alphabets to record myths, rituals, and practices, many of which were deeply rooted in the Canaanite religion and were often obscene, even pornographic. Yet, God took these ordinary symbols—letters formed for common and even profane uses—and repurposed them for the sacred. The Hebrew alphabet became the means through which God revealed Himself to humanity. Written in Hebrew, the Old Testament includes the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings of the nation of Israel.

What is been labeled as the Despoiling the Egyptians is another example. When the Israelites left Egypt, they carried out an extraordinary treasure trove of gold, silver, precious gems, and fine cloth. These items were not gifts of goodwill but rather a form of payment—compensation for the backbreaking labor they had endured as slaves. The treasure included jewelry, pagan relics, and likely even household idols from Egyptian homes.

What was God’s purpose for these spoils of Egypt? They were repurposed for religious worship. Under God’s instruction, the gold and silver were melted down and used to craft the sacred articles for the Tabernacle, as described in (Exodus 25-28). Items that had once adorned idols or served profane purposes were now dedicated to the worship of the one true God. Scandalous and idolatrous objects were reimagined and consecrated.

Throughout history, the Father has repurposed things of the world for sacred purposes. During the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther exemplified this principle by transforming secular songs into sacred hymns. He famously asked, “Why should the Devil have all the good music?” Luther pioneered the practice of contrafacta, borrowing popular tunes and setting them to sacred texts, making them suitable for worship. Luther’s well-known hymn tune, “Ein’ Feste Burg,” might be based on a drinking song (http://everything2.com/title/contrafacta).

Many beloved hymns were initially composed for secular or classical purposes. For instance, the hymn “Be Still, My Soul” borrows its melody from Finlandia, composed by Jean Sibelius. Similarly, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” finds its roots in Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the climactic movement of his majestic Ninth Symphony.

Gospel music, as we know it today, began to take shape in the 1930s, though its roots run much deeper into history. Its origins can be traced to the African American communities of the southern United States in the late 19th century. These communities would gather in their churches, singing heartfelt spirituals and hymns that carried both the weight of their struggles and the hope of deliverance.

The rhythm and power of these songs were palpable, expressed through the hand-clapping and foot-stomping that still resonate in gospel music today. These gatherings were not just acts of worship—they were acts of transformation, where ordinary moments and melodies were made sacred.

God specializes in transformation. He takes what is ordinary, flawed, or even profane and repurposes it for His glory. Pagan idols are melted down to form sacred tabernacle vessels. Secular music is infused with a sacred meaning. Time and again, what the world sees as common or corrupt is redeemed and sanctified, becoming holy and eternal.

This reveals a profound truth about God’s nature. He doesn’t see us for what we are—ordinary, broken, or sinful—but for what we can become. God imparts His holiness to us, shaping us into vessels of His glory. Just as gospel music turns everyday rhythms into powerful praise, we, too, are called to redeem and sanctify the world around us.

God’s redemption is not diminished by the secular. Instead, He brings holiness where it was absent, renewing and transforming everything for His divine purpose, including us.

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© Dr. H 2024