Human Response to God's Holiness and Righteousness
Human Response to God's Holiness and Righteousness
The biblical concept of God's holiness and righteousness elicits a profound human response, characterized by reverence, repentance, and a pursuit of righteousness. In the biblical narrative, God's holiness is a fundamental attribute that underscores His separateness and perfection [2]. When confronted with God's holiness, individuals are compelled to acknowledge their own sinfulness and unrighteousness.
In the Psalms, the psalmist cries out to God, "Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer" [3]. This plea reflects the human response to God's righteousness, seeking mercy and relief from distress. The acknowledgment of God's righteousness is often accompanied by a recognition of human unrighteousness, as seen in Romans 3:5, where the apostle Paul poses a rhetorical question, "Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath?" [4].
The human response to God's holiness and righteousness involves a call to repentance and a pursuit of righteousness. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, "Righteousness is obedience to God's law" [5]. This obedience is not merely external but is rooted in a heart transformed by God's grace. The prophet Isaiah emphasizes the importance of righteousness, stating that God's people will be called "the righteous" and "the holy people" [7].
In the face of God's holiness and righteousness, humans are driven to prayer and supplication. Job 33:26 describes a scenario where an individual "maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him" [1]. This acceptance is not based on human merit but on God's gracious response to human prayer. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights the significance of prayer, noting that it is "commanded" and that God "hears" and "answers" prayer [6].
The biblical response to God's holiness and righteousness is also characterized by a recognition of the need for divine mercy and forgiveness. The psalmist's plea for mercy in Psalm 4:1 is echoed in other biblical passages, such as Lamentations 2:18-19, where repentance and prayer are advocated as proper responses to God's judgment [9].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin's commentary on Isaiah, underscores the importance of acknowledging God's righteousness and holiness. Calvin notes that humans are called to "know righteousness" and to have God's law in their hearts [8]. This knowledge of righteousness is not merely intellectual but is accompanied by a heartfelt commitment to follow God's ways.
Sources
- Job “Job 33:26 (YLT) — He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- Psalms “Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. -- Psalms 4:1”
- Romans “But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. -- Romans 3:5”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness — Is obedience to God's law -- De 6:25; Ro 10:5; Lu 1:6; Ps 1:2. God loves -- Ps 11:7. God looks for -- Isa 5:7. Christ Is the Son of. -- Mal 4:2. Loves. -- Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9. Was girt with. -- Isa 11:5. Put on, as breast-plate. -- Isa 59:17. Was sustained by. -- Isa 59:16. Preached. -- Ps 40:9. Fulfilled all. -- Mt 3:15. Is made to his people. -- 1Co 1:30. Is the end of the law for. -- Ro 10:4. Has brought in everlasting. -- Da 9:24. Shall judge with. -- Ps 72:2; Isa 11:4; Ac 17:31; Re 19:11. Shall reign in. -- Ps 45:6; Isa 32:1; Heb 1:8. Shall execute.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 60:21: all righteous-- (Isa 4:3; Isa 52:1; Rev 21:27). inherit . . . land-- (Isa 49:8; Isa 54:3; Isa 65:9; Psa 37:11, Psa 37:22; Mat 5:5). branch of my planting-- (Isa 61:3; Psa 92:13; Mat 15:13). work of my hands--the converted Israelites (Isa 29:23; Isa 45:11). that I may be glorified--the final end of all God's gracious dealings (Isa 49:3; Isa 61:3).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
- Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 2:18: 2:18-19 Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment.”