Be Holy, for God is Holy

The command to be holy is found most explicitly in Leviticus 11:44-45: “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy… ⁴⁵ I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” Two interesting this can be said about this passage: (1) the command to be holy is repeated twice, once in each verse; and (2) the commands to be holy are predicated on God’s initial self-description. It seems that the indicative about God is the foundation of the imperative to be holy.

Firstly, there are two ways God describes Himself in these two verses.

a. I am the Lord your God (11:44)

It is interesting that the statement “I am the Lord your God” is repeated several times in the Old Testament (Exo 6:6; 15:26; 20:2, 7; 29:46; Lev 26:1; 26:13; Deut 5:6; Isa 43:3; Jer 34:13). It seems that God needed to remind them about this fact all throughout their history. But we can understand this repeated reminder of Yahweh to the Israelites. Ancient New East offered plenty of gods. In Egypt alone, where they came from, there is a significant number of gods, each in-charge of something. The Israelites were surely influenced by Egypt. Being raised in a culture means that you are influenced by your environment. What you think about right and wrong, what is proper and improper etiquette, what is honorable and disgusting, what is socially approved and not, and other seemingly ordinary thought patterns are conditioned by our environment. So for the Israelites, it was normal for them to think that there were many gods. This was why it was easy for them to rebel against God and worship other gods even when they were already in the promise land.

The implication of God’s reminder that He is the Lord God of the Israelites is simple. If He is the God of the Israelites, then He deserves their worship, their devotion, their offerings, their allegiance, their dedication, their prayers. If He is their God, then He deserves everything. Again, they do not have the right to ignore Him or avoid Him. He is their God, and they have their responsibilities to Him.

This is the same with us. He deserves our love (Mark 12:29-30). He deserves our service (Matt 4:10).

b. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt (11:45)

This statement is also repeated several time in the Old Testament as well (Exo 6:6; 13:3; 15:26; 29:46; Lev 11:45; 26:13; Deut 5:6; 7:8; Judg 2:1; Jer 2:6; 16:14; 34:13; Amos 2:10). God describes Himself as someone who did something for the Israelites. God met with them as the Redeemer. He is not just the some God who personally manifested Himself to them. No. He is the God who has done great and marvelous things for them. Their history would not be without Him. Yahweh reminds them that He is the Lord to whom they owe their entire existence as a nation.

God’s redeeming self-manifestation with the Israelites is also true in all of God’s dealing with humanity. He does not meet us just for the sake of meeting us. He meets us in order to meet our needs. He meets us in order to give us something. He comes to us and presents Himself because He recognizes our inmost being. He presents Himself and not offers Himself in relationship. He presents Himself because He wants to do something for us. This was what happened to Abraham, who was met by God in order to give Him the promise of blessings (Gen 12:1-3). This was also true to Moses, who was met by God in order to save the Israelites (Exo 3:7-10). Even Mary, when she encountered God through an angel, became the recipient of a great blessing (Luke 1:31-32). We encounter a God who does not just appear in our midst. The God we encounter is One who is gracious, compassionate, and merciful. He is a God who comes to us bearing gifts and blessings.

But God does not only reveal Himself to us. He also does not only come to save us. He wants us to be holy like Him. God’s self-introduction is also coupled by a command. The command is: “be holy, for I am holy.” But this is to be expected. Worshippers of different gods imitate the characters of their gods. Satan worshippers dress up with dark and demonic symbols. Followers of Buddha shave their heads and dress up like Buddha. And they do these things unashamedly. Even followers of famous people dress up like the person they idolize (e.g. Lady Gaga). Meaning: imitation of someone we love and adore is almost spontaneously expected.

So what does the command “be holy, for I am holy” mean? Two things may be mentioned here.

a. Being like God in His character

The identity of the Israelites as people of God must be patterned after the God who saved them and who they serve. God wanted the Israelites to be His reflection on earth. The calling of Israel was for them to reflect the character of God to their neighbors. They have to have a distinct identity in order for them to reflect who God is. This was why the Law was given, because the Law guides them to be the people God wanted them to be. The Ten Commandments reveal not only God’s will, but God’s character also:

1. There is no other worthy God to be worshipped.
2. No image can ever satisfactorily portray His greatness. To contain God is to insult Him.
3. God’s name is holy.
4. God honors rest and contentment.
5. God values those from whom we owe our existence.
6. God values the life that He gave to us.
7. God values single-minded commitment.
8. God values honest hard-work.
9. God values honest interpersonal relationships.
10. God values contentment.

By receiving the Law, the Israelites were being molded by God. The analogy of pots being molded by God the Potter is found in Jeremiah 18:1-10: “The pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him… [Yahweh] said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”

Paul also says the same thing about Christians: “we are God’s handiwork” (Eph 2:10). In Greek, it says that we God’s poiema, a term also used in poetry and art. This means that we God’s careful masterpieces. Like poems, He chooses the best words and the best rhymes to finish a beautiful poem. Like songs, He chooses the best chord and note progression and lyrics to finish a beautiful song. Like a painting, He chooses the best color combination and brush strokes to finish a beautiful painting. Why? Because by shaping us, His character is also revealed and manifested.

b. Being like God in His work

Based on Leviticus 11:45, it seems that the holiness of God also refers to His saving character. Holiness is not just His attribute. Yahweh said: “I am the Lord who brought you out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, as I am holy.” To reconstruct the statement, it means “I am the holy Lord who brought you out of Egypt; therefore be holy like I am.”

Holiness, therefore, is also tied to with God’s actions. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus challenged His hearers: “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” If we go back up to verse 43, the perfection or holiness of the Father is described as (1) loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us, (2) causing sun to rise to the evil and good, and (3) sending rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. To be perfect like the Father is to imitate Him in these works.

It seems, therefore, that the holiness of God is evidenced by His saving work and in reaching out to others in need. His holiness is found in His forgiving work (“He is faithful and just,” 1 John 1:9). His holiness is found in delivering the oppressed, proclaiming the good news, giving sight to the blind (Luke 14:18-19). His holiness is found in embracing others, including sinners (Matt 11:19). His holiness is found in his coming to serve (Matt 20:28). His holiness is found in giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). His holiness is found in coming to heal the sick (Mark 2:17). His holiness is found in looking for the lost sheep of Israel (Matt 15:24).

To be holy just as God is holy, therefore, is to imitate Him in His reaching out to save others. The hymn written by Thomas O. Chisholm in 1897, “O to be Like Thee,” perfectly illustrates this:

O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

O to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.