“Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.” (Psa. 96:9).
The holy nature in the saints and angels in heaven (where the true tendency of it best appears) is principally engaged by the holiness of divine things. This is the divine beauty which chiefly engages the attention, admiration, and praise of the bright and burning seraphim. Isa. 6:3, “One cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.” And Rev. 4:8, “They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” So the glorified saints, chap. 15:4, “Who shall not fear thee, Lord, and glorify thy name for thou only art holy.”
Jonathan Edwards said, “And the Scriptures represent the saints on earth as adoring God primarily on this account, and admiring and extolling all God’s attributes, either as deriving loveliness from his holiness, or as being a part of it. Thus when they praise God for his power, his holiness is the beauty that engages them.”
Does the beauty and power of God engage you? Are you, simply in the context of your devotions, amazed at the character of God?
Consider Psalm 97:1, “sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.” So when they praise him for his justice and terrible majesty, Psalm 96:2-3, “The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.” Verse 5, “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.” Verse 9, “Thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill : for the Lord our God, is holy.” So when they praise God for his mercy and faithfulness. Psalm 97:11-12, “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” 1 Sam. 2:2, “There is none holy as the Lord : for there is none besides thee; neither is there any rock like our God.” Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections.
Contemplation:
O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then.
In prayer I see myself as nothing; I find my heart going after You with intensity, and long with vehement thirst to live to You. Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.
In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others.
In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind.
In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts at what You are doing for Your church, and I long that You should get Yourself a great name from sinners returning to Zion.
In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys; entering into the eternal world I can give myself to You with all my heart, to be Yours for ever.
In prayer I can place all my concerns in Your hands, to be entirely at Your disposal, having no will or interest of my own.
In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church, Your kingdom to come, with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved.
Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.
