Holiness and Righteousness

Holiness and righteousness.  There are a couple of times where God says “you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45).  God is holy, so we, too, must be holy.  All of the details we read about how the priests were to examine and establish uncleanness or cleanness, all speak to the importance of holiness.  In the Psalm portion of our reading, it begins, “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful” (Psalm 33:1).  Further on, we read, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love” (v.5).  God loves praise from the upright, or holy.  God loves righteousness and justice.  Holiness is not a matter of us living lives in order to save ourselves, or so that we look righteous before others.  This is what God loves, so we should desire to please Him, for He is good.  Lastly, we read, “the Lord keeps His eye on those who fear Him – those who depend on His faithful love to rescue them from death and to keep them alive in famine” (v.18-19).  This verse teaches us that not only is God pleased with those who are holy and righteous, but holiness and righteous help teach us dependency on God.  His eyes are on us, and if God be for us, who can be against us?