Holiness – Its Not Just a Place

FOR many, the word “holy” brings to mind special places such as cathedrals and temples. It would be easy to limit our concept of holiness to such concrete examples, especially when we see so many such cases in the Old Testament. At various times throughout their history, God called the Israelites to dedicate various places (and persons) in a way that would remind God’s people that they were His own. Certain monuments, the tabernacle, the temple, and even certain mountains, along with some of the leaders, the priests, and the prophets were designated as “holy,” consecrated, or set apart to the Lord.

This pattern was continued in Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple, access to which was to be highly restricted (Ezekiel 44:1-19). Likewise, a certain “holy district” was to be established in the restored land (Ezekiel 45:1-5). So holiness was attached to certain places, but we shouldn’t forget that the call to holy living is not confined to one place or another. All of life is to be holy, no matter where one is. Ezekiel pinpoints some practical and even mundane dimensions of holiness:

• Stop the use of violence and oppression (Ezekiel 45:9).
• Cease the pattern of evicting people (Ezekiel 45:9).
• Restore honest dealing in business, using standards of value that have integrity and can be trusted (Ezekiel 45:10-12).
• Donate a percentage of each business transaction to God, whether one is a prince or one of the common people (Ezekiel 45:13-17).
• Mark all of life with monthly festivals and celebrations that include everyone (Ezekiel 45:18-25).
• Restore the six-day work week, and protect the Sabbath rest, with the prince providing substantially for this observance (Ezekiel 46:1-15).
• Follow careful guidelines in the matter of inheritances and boundaries, maintaining fair treatment of aliens and strangers (Ezekiel 46:16-18; 47:13-23).
• Provide an area for the common people, for homes and common space (Ezekiel 48:15-20).
• Name each of the commercial centers—the exits or gates of the city—after a portion of the citizenry (tribes) (Ezekiel 48:30-35).
• Name the city itself “THE LORD IS THERE,” reflecting a inclusive view of holiness: everything that goes on there pertains to the Lord (Ezekiel 48:35).

All of life is to be holy. One might be more reverent in certain settings and on certain occasions, but one is made neither more nor less holy by entering or exiting a particular place. Christ has already invited us into the most holy place there is, so that we will live as His holy people in everything we do (Hebrews 9:11-15; 10:19-25).

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.