Set Apart or Called into Relationship?
Tell the whole congregation of Israel: Be holy because I, Yahweh your Elohim, am Qedosh.Leviticus19:2
What does it mean to be holy? One of Strong’s definitions of holiness is set-apartness. It’s separateness, sacredness, the state of being consecrated. In a nutshell, it’s Yahweh’s very essence.
Ann Spangler says it so well.
…holiness is grounded in God’s nature. It refers not to one of his attributes but to the totality of his perfection. In his holiness, God exists above and apart from the world he has made.
And yet, with the name Qedosh Yisrael, Yahweh calls his people to join him in his set-apartness. As partakers of the New Covenant, we are called, as well. I’m so grateful for Yahweh, the Qedosh who sanctifies me.
Y’all. This is such a challenging week. Great references and great questions. I’ll share one of them with you.
What would your life look like were you to live in the constant awareness that Qedosh Yisrael is great, that he is among you? – Ann Spangler, Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks
