“In the year that King Uzziah died,” [Isaiah] saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on the throne” (Isaiah 6:3 NIV). But while Uzziah left his earthy throne vacant, someone still sat on that throne. The Apostle John identifies that someone. “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him” (John 12:41). Isaiah goes on to describe the Lord/Jesus.

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:3 NIV

Holy is the only attribute of God that is written in triplicate in the Bible (I just learned it’s called the trihagion)—twice, once in each testament.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

Revelation 4:8 NIV

In English we add est to the adjective (holiest) or precede it with most (most holy) to indicate the superlative. But the Bible authors write the word multiple times in a row. (See other examples in Jeremiah 22:29 and Revelation 8:13).

Interestingly, God is not love, love, love. Not good, good, good or great, great, great although he is also these things. He is holy, holy, holy. He is set apart, other, totally sacred. His holiness encompasses all his other qualities.

His holiness is simply his God-ness in all his attributes, works, and ways. … He is not like us, only bigger and nicer. He is in a different category. He is holy.

Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr. Isaiah, p 77

Like Isaiah we respond to God’s holiness with the appropriate recognition of our own unholiness (Isaiah 6:5; Matthew 12:34) and the need for Jesus to cleanse us (1 John 1:7–9; Hebrews 9:14).

God then makes us holy because the Holy One lives in us (2 Peter 1:4). We are holy because he is holy, holy, holy.

• Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 4:3 NIV emphasis added)
• They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted. (Isaiah 62:12 NIV emphasis added)
• For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4 NIV emphasis added)
• But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV emphasis added)
• But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14–16 NIV emphasis added)

The Lord says, “You are holy, redeemed; you’re mine; you’re precious in my sight; you’re my daughter; you’re worthy; you’re valuable.”

Amy Cedrone

Do you believe this?

How does your life represent the Holy One who lives in you?

PRAYER

Jesus, you are the one on the throne, the Holy One, the one who cleanses, saves and lives in me. I am awed that you have made me holy. Help me to truly grasp this so that I live as your holy daughter.

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I am indebted to Amy Cedrone and her message to the Tuesday Morning Bible Study at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship on September 12, 2023.