WEDNESDAY November 28, 2018
Approaching the Holiness of God
Then He [God] struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
1 Samuel 6:19
Why did God bring such a great slaughter among the people of Israel? The men had taken the lid off the Ark of God and looked inside. Apart from what the Philistines had placed inside the Ark, what else would they have seen? Three objects inside––Aaron’s rod that budded, the jar of manna, and the Ten Commandments. There may be some of you who say, “So what if they saw the three items––nothing wrong with that!”
God clearly spoke to my heart. Here were unclean men––sinners––who were looking into the holiness of God. Those who looked into the Ark of God were not consecrated. In their excitement to see the Ark, they became careless and looked inside. They had no respect for the holiness of God. Remember the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark? God did not judge them like that, but those men who looked inside the Ark were struck by the LORD with a great slaughter.
Understand that when we try to do the work of God in our own righteousness, God will not bless it. You cannot handle the things of God without holiness. If you are going to serve the Lord, he wants you to be set apart––holy. He cannot bless people who are not holy; there has to be holiness in our lives. God will not put up with sin. God is holy. If you are not set apart––holy, then expect to receive the judgment of God.
Especially if you are a leader in the Church, you are held more accountable than anyone else––you cannot excuse yourself, because you have been taught the holiness of God. Hebrews 12:14 tells us: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
The Gospel is not an announcement that God has relaxed His justice or lowered the standard of His holiness.
~Arthur W. Pink~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!