CHAPTER 11: HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL (QEDOSH YISRAEL)

CHAPTER 11: HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL (QEDOSH YISRAEL)

*This name captures God’s uniqueness, otherness, mystery, and holiness. He calls His people to become holy as He is holy over and over and over again in His Word.
As Christians, as “little Christs”, we are CALLED to reflect the character of Christ, to be holy even as he is holy.

Even in the introduction, I am challenged to recognize and live up to His call for me to be : set apart for Him, devoted to His service, and COMMITTED to honoring His service by reflecting Him in all relationships.

God’s holiness involves not just separation from sin but his absolute hostility toward it. It reminds me of what my mama taught me as a child, hate the sin, love the sinner. This doesn’t mean we shut ourselves in the closet or live in our Christian bubble to avoid sin, nor does it mean we stand on street corners with “Turn or Burn” posters. This means we hate the sin in our lives! Push it out!

Tuesday:
OH TO GET A GLIMPSE of the Holy One of Israel...to stand around the throne and sing HOLY HOLY HOLY!
I fear in that glimpse that I wouldn’t be able to even utter the words that Isaiah got out. Although, I am certain that those exact thoughts would consume me as they do when I am just reminded of His Holiness. In just my earthly ability to perceive the Holy One of Israel, I realize the depths of my depravity. I am so so undeserving, and yet...He still loves me. He still calls me to Him and to His service.

Thursday:
Holiness involves separating myself from the sinful attitudes and patterns so prevalent in my own life. My call is to love people and to share my faith. 1 Thess 2:8

Names of God: Consuming Fire (Esh Oklah), Jealous God (El Kanna)

Chapter 10: Consuming Fire (Esh Oklah), Jealous God (El Kanna)

MONDAY

*He is a Jealous God, who loves us completely and who, therefore, demands our wholehearted response.

He loves us completely and desires us to love Him completely in return. He is jealous for us when other things distract our love from Him.

Exodus 34:14= Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Jealous isn’t just an attribute or an adjective to put in front of God that describes Him- IT IS HIS NAME!

His name is Jealous!

Thoughts from Deut 6:13-19

Fear the LORD. Follow the LORD. Else He will become El Kanna (Jealous God) and His anger will burn against me.

He ranks numero uno! It is the essense of the beginning of the Ten Commandments. It’s like the intro! MUY IMPORTANTE!

FEAR HIM

WORSHIP HIM

LOVE HIM

SERVE HIM

Reflection/Prayer:

If I can get a glimpse of His glory I will be jealous for His glory as well. I will want everything that I do to glorify Him. His consuming fire refines and purges sin and anything that doesn’t glorify Him. O LORD, Esh Oklah, send your refining and consuming fire to purge my life, my heart, my motives of what doesn’t glorify and honor you! May every part of my life, actions, mind, heart, motives glorify you. I don’t want to be unfaithful. I don’t want to cause you to be Jealous because of my unfaithfulness!

STUDYING THE NAME

1) Promises from Exodus- work wonders*people will see*drive out enemies

Commands from Exodus- obey His commands*break down alters*smash their stones*cut down Asherah poles (idols in my life)*do not worship any other gods
Warnings- making treaties=snare

2) Why is His name Jealous?
to further identify who He is. Isn’t just a trait, IT’S WHO HE IS

3) Significance to covenant?
He doesn’t want His people to stray away from Him. They are His love.His chosen people.He has done great things for them then they go astray, worship and bow down to other idols/gods. GRRRRR

4) He fought for me.
He wants the Church to love Him solely.

TUESDAY

By contrast the flames are rendered powerless against the three young men whose zeal for God led them to refuse his command.

A God who in His wrath against sin is like a consuming fire

A wall of fire to protect and deliver us

Lord, you have placed me in an area surrounded my countries under religious/government persecution, in a country that is so multi-cultural that we have people who are from those countries. Use me to influence them and to show them the love of Jesus!!

WEDNESDAY

Hebrews 12:29b God is a consuming fire.

I love that there is a OT Hebrew name of God in the NT!

We must either fear his future wrath or love his present grace-one of the two!

“Consuming fire” is an expression of his justice and his holiness. Its primary purpose is restorative!

To restore me to Him or if not, then separate me in my sin from Him L

Being rescued from wrath is cause for rejoicing and HUMILITY. It certainly isn’t because of anything I’ve done. It is only because of the amazing and incomprehensible love of the Lord.

Prayer:

Esh Oklah,

CONSUME EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE THAT DISTRACTS ME OR ANYONE ELSE FROM YOUR GLORY!

THURSDAY

He is a Lover who will not be satisfied until we return His Love with equal passion.

What a challenge! El Kanna, continue in your faithful and constant pursuit of me until I return your love with equal passion, until I am madly in love with you once again. May I forsake every love that distracts me from you!