What does it mean for God to be holy? Holiness and holy are words that we repeatedly find throughout Scripture in reference to God. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come sing the angels (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). But what does it mean? How would you explain the concept of holiness to your friend or your child?

At a most basic level, holiness refers to the otherness of God. He is completely set apart from and different to anything and anyone in creation. When it comes to his being and his nature there is no one like him. In terms of his being, he is the Creator. He kills and brings to life (1 Samuel 2:6). Infinite, self-existent, eternal, omnipotent; he does as he pleases and is subject to no one (Daniel 4:34–35). We, by contrast, are dependent beings. We are creatures who have been made, subject to various limitations, including time and space. Yes, we have been made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26), but we do not share all of his attributes. Another way in which holiness is used is in relation to God’s purity. He is not the author of sin and no evil can be found in him. Completely righteous, perfectly wise, just and good. He is the God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed (1 Samuel 2:3).

1 Samuel 5:1 – 6:21 emphasizes the holiness of God. It gives us a practical example of what God’s holiness means for mankind—for those who live in covenant with him (the Israelites) and those who do not (the Philistines).

The Philistines had the ark, but that does not mean they bested the Lord. Their victory and the defeat of Israel was because of Israel’s sin, and not because Dagon is strong and the Lord is weak.

The Lord will not be dishonoured as if he were some kind of trophy. If the ark remains in their midst, there will be plagues and death, they will be consumed by his wrath. A sinful people cannot dwell in the presence of the Lord; he is holy. He will punish all sin and rebellion. Whether it is the Israelites or the Philistines, God is of purer eyes than to behold evil (Habakkuk 1:13).

For us today, as we reflect on God’s holiness, this is another reminder that we are utterly lost without Jesus. We cannot satisfy the demands of God’s justice by ourselves so that we can dwell in his presence. If we want to pay the penalty our sins deserve, that would mean an eternity in hell where we know nothing except God’s wrath. An eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth. But even if that debt was theoretically paid, if an eternity came to an end so to speak, there would still be the need for a perfect righteousness. Perfect obedience to God’s law, an obedience that lies beyond us on account of our sinful nature.

There is no hope of eternal life in God’s presence for those who are not united to Christ. That is what God’s holiness means for the Philistines. That is what God’s holiness means for all those who reject his promises, for those who reject Jesus and refuse to live in covenant with him.