The Majestic Holiness of God.

     Who is like thee among the gods, O Lord? Who is like thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?
                                    Exodus 15:11 NASB

     The idea of holiness in God is that of absolute perfection. God's absolute holiness far eclipses man's concept of what it means to be good, to be holy. The mind has a hard time to grasp the concept of the one who dwells in unaproachable light (1 Tim 6:16), the one who dwells in the high and lofty place, whose name is Holy (Isaiah 57:15). 
     Look at the majestic display of the holiness of God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-25). The writer of Hebrews has this to say about the awesome presence of the holy God

     For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said "I am full of fear and trembling." 
                                      Hebrews 12:18-21 NASB

     God came down in an awesome display of His holiness, and the people knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He far transcended them in His very nature and ways.
     The writer of Hebrews goes on to say that our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). Look at what Isaiah says about Him, and the fire of His holiness.

     Sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling has seized the godless. "Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?"
                                          Isaiah 33:19 NASB

     
      The realization that a holy God cannot dwell among sinners should strike fear into our hearts. We may appeal to God's love, His mercy, His benevolence, all of which make up the character of God, but yet we see that sin has no place in His presence. Who indeed can dwell in the presence of the all consuming fire, while covered with the defilement of sin?
      Isaiah was also confronted with a display of God's majesty, when he had a vision of The Lord seated on the throne. The pillars shook, smoke filled the temple, and the seraphim cried "Holy, Holy, Holy." 
     When confronted with the absolute perfection of the sinless, perfectly holy God, Isaiah cried out "Woe is me, for I am ruined." He realized his sinfulness, in the presence of perfect purity, and it left Him in a dreadful awe (Isaiah 6:1-5). Yet we see provision for the cleansing of sin also, making one fit to stand in the presence of God (Isaiah 6:6-7).
     God is indeed holy, awesome, far above our concepts of Him. It is through His revelation of Himself to us that we are confronted with His sinless perfection, the awesome display of His majestic holiness. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and those who truly fear Him with a reverential awe, a solemn, even dreadful realization of who He is, and who we are in comparison to Him, will fall on their faces before Him and cry "Holy." This is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10).