Holy to the Lord

There is a cool word in the Old Testament that gets translated as “holy.” In Hebrew, it is “qodesh.” It means to be set apart, consecrated, or dedicated for a high purpose. The writer of Exodus loves this term. He uses it to refer to the ground where the burning bush miraculously burned (3:5). He uses it to refer to Almighty God in chapter 15:11. He refers to people as holy in 22:31; the garments of the high priests are holy in 28:4 and a crown gets that same designation in 29:6.

But the one that particularly caught my eye is in Exodus 39:30. The high priestly family is getting details about their garments. Their tunics were to be of fine linen, the headbands and undergarments of twisted linen, and a linen sash of blue, purple, and scarlet.

The final article was a plate, a sacred diadem that was to be made of pure gold. It attached to the turban and was clearly visible to anyone meeting that priest. It was to be engraved with the words, “Holy to the Lord.”

What a statement of character and promise. This man walked around among the people with a testimony to his connection to God and a proclamation about his spiritual life. “I am set apart, consecrated, and dedicated to the Lord.”

As we learned on Sunday, Godly wisdom has works. They are meant to be seen and not just heard. That high priest had his heart and works up for regular public display. He couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without reflecting the character of the Lord.

Neither can we! We may not have a band hanging around our head, but our actions proclaim our allegiances. They are on full display at work, at home, at church, and in our neighborhood. Our family, friends, and coworkers “read” us all the time.

So maybe this week is a great time to make certain our testimony is indeed beautiful, praiseworthy, and excellent.
Sherry Worel
Sherry Worel is a Bible teacher at heart and lives a life of ministry. She’s been involved at Coast Hills teaching Women’s LIFE, Bible studies, online courses, devotionals, participating in Upstream conversations, and much more. Having a love for education, Sherry has over 50 years of teaching experience with schools, churches, and mission agencies. As well as earning her Master’s at Talbot Seminary, she rounded out her education with 35 years as Head of School at Stoneybrooke Christian School. Sherry is happiest with a book or fishing pole in hand.