Holy To The Lord

Holy to the Lord.  In talking about the sacrifice that was to be performed once a year at the atonement ceremony, we read that, “The altar is especially holy to the Lord” (Exodus 30:10).  Have you ever given much thought of something being holy to the Lord and what that means?  If we read further, we read that the sacred incense that was to be made, that too was holy to the Lord (Exodus 30:37).  However, in this statement, we gain further insight as to what it means for it to be holy to the Lord.  God stated that the formula for this incense was only to be used for incense in the ceremonies to God, and others were not to make it for their own purposes.  This incense was to be especially holy to Israel as well (v.36).  We read, “As for the incense you are making, you must not make any for yourselves using its formula.  It is to be regarded by you as holy – belonging to the Lord.  Anyone who makes something like it to smells its fragrance must be cut off from His people” (v.37-38).  God was very clear that He is a jealous God and something that is to be regarded as holy, belongs only to Him.  Interestingly, we read the same language about the Sabbath as the Bible states, “Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you.  Whoever profanes it must be put to death” (Exodus 31:14).