HOLY GROUND

The Hebrew scriptures were not inspired to be written in our English. They were originally inspired in the Hebrew tongue. What we have today are translations from the original through other languages to English. Quite often, in this process with the purest of intentions, translators add or change words in an attempt to make the meaning clearer. Sometimes this changes or clouds the true meaning intended by Yahweh. However, Yahweh is wise beyond our understanding and when He wishes to teach us something from His word, there is no obstacle to prevent Him from doing so. There are many bible study aids at our disposal today to help us get closer to the original language of the scriptures.

In this study we will examine one of these scriptures. It is found in the book of Leviticus and repeated by Peter in his first letter to the exiles in the dispersion. As we read it in the King James and some other versions, it appears to be a command. If it is truly a command then it is one we cannot obey.

In the various denominations it is understood in this way and usually passed over with little or no thought given to it’s real meaning. Let us not be guilty of taking any of Yahweh’s inspired word lightly, as we are told to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahweh. Deut. 8:3 As with all of the words of Yahweh the scripture we are about to examine holds a wealth of information when understood in it’s proper light. It will reveal to us more clearly who and what we are and why.

Let us turn now to Lev. 11: 44-45 In verse 45 is Yahweh telling the Israelites to sanctify or purify themselves and then they will be Holy as He is Holy? This is what it is understood to say by the majority. Is this even possible? Can a person make himself or herself holy?

Is Yahweh, instead, making a statement of fact that the Israelites never did fully grasp? The subject of this scripture was crucial to their relationship with Yahweh and it is crucial to our relationship with Him as well. It is also crucial to our relationship with our fellow man.

Peter repeats this scripture in 1 Peter 1:16, and as it appears in the King James version it is a command to be Holy because Yahweh is Holy.

Is it possible to obey a command such as this? Can anything we do make us holy? Does keeping the Sabbath make us holy? Does obeying all of the ten commandments make us holy? The answer of course is, no. Mankind does not have the power to make holy. Mankind does not have the power to be holy.

As we search for true understanding let us examine some other scriptures that will begin to shed light on this subject. In Ex. 19:6 Yahweh is telling the Israelites that they are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Were they holy because they were such wonderful, good living people? History proves that they were not. This being the case then, what made them holy? Yahweh does not lie.

In 1 Peter 2:9 we are told the same thing, that we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation.

The same question applies to us. How did this holiness come about? Is it because we are such pious good living people? In 1 Cor. 1 26-31 Paul tells us that this was not and is not the case.

Many scriptures speak about the holiness of Yahweh. Lets look at a couple as we strive to understand our relationship with Yahweh and Yahshua.

Eph. 1:3-4 tells us that we were chosen before the world was even made to be holy and blameless before Yahweh. Since we had not yet lived, how could Yahweh be sure that we would be holy?

Paul tells us in Coll.1:21-22 that even though we were once hostile to Yahweh, Yahshua will present us to Him in a holy blameless state. The fact that Yahweh’s people are holy is inescapable. Many scriptures confirm this fact.

There can be no doubt that the Israelites were a holy nation, different from the nations around them. There can be no doubt that we, in the new covenant era, are also a holy nation, different from the world around us.

It is time now to understand where this holy state we are in originates.

In Ex.3:1-6 we will find a story that we are all familiar with, the story of Moses and the burning bush. Yahweh told Moses to remove his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. It was dirt, rocks and brush on the side of a mountain. What made it holy? Sheep still pasture there today. Is it still holy ground? The answer is of course NO.

It was holy at the time of Moses because of Yahweh’s presence. Yahweh is holy and His presence ensures the holiness of the surroundings that He is in. Lets understand that fully. Yahweh is holy and His presence ensures the holiness of His surroundings. In Ex.19:9-13 we find a similar case. The Israelites were not allowed to come near to touch the mountain because it was holy ground. Mt. Sinai is still in the same place today. People climb it and pasture it’s lower slopes. It is not holy ground today. It was holy then because of Yahweh’s presence. Yahweh’s presence ensures the holiness of His surroundings.

At this point lets examine the two scriptures that we read at the beginning. They reveal information that is crucial to our relationship to Yahweh. They will also help us understand our responsibility to our fellow man in our daily lives.

One important thing to note in Lev:11:44-45 is that there is no and in Hebrew and no equivalent of it. And has been added to the English text in an attempt to make the meaning clearer. Sometimes this works but at other times it only clouds the intended meaning. That is the case with this scripture.

In verse 44 Yahweh tells the people to refrain from touching any of the unclean things mentioned in the previous scriptures. By obeying His command they would remain clean or pure of uncleanness. As it reads with the and in place it seems to say they would be holy ( Hebrew, Qadosh) because of this purification. This is not the case. Lets investigate what is actually being said by Yahweh. He tells them to sanctify themselves. This word sanctify is from the Hebrew Qadash. There is a lot of confusion as to the correct meaning of the English word sanctify. However the Hebrew meaning is much clearer. It means to dedicate, separate, and prepare.

Yahweh is telling the Israelites not to touch any of these unclean things which would serve to defile them. They were no longer a common or unclean people. He says to be separate from these things. They were to dedicate themselves to Him and prepare to be in His holy presence. The Hebrew Qadash means all of these things. Yahweh is telling them that because He is holy Qadosh they are also holy because of His presence among them and must refrain from all unholy actions and affiliations. Yahweh’s presence among them made them holy Qadosh. His presence ensures the holiness of His surroundings. He lived among the Israelites. They were a holy nation as a result of this. They were holy because He is holy.

In 1 Peter 1:15-16 Peter is repeating to us what Yahweh told the Israelites. He is telling us to refrain from all unholy conduct because the one who called us is holy, and as a result, we are also holy, not by our doing but by Yahweh’s doing. Verse 16 in the King James appears to be a command to be holy. We understand that we on our own can not cause holiness. Holiness comes from Yahweh so this scripture must be a statement of fact rather than a command.

In the Zondervan literal Greek to English verse 16 reads; Holy you are because holy I am. This is not a command but a statement of a condition we are in because of the holiness of Yahweh. How did this condition come about?

Yahshua said in John 14:23 that He and our Heavenly Father would come and make their home with us. The two holiest beings in the universe are living with us. But they are doing more than just living among us as they did the Israelites. Their relationship with us is much more personal and intimate than it was with the Israelites.

Paul tells us that he lives is no longer his life but the life of Yahshua the messiah who lives in him. Gal.2:20 How did this happen. It is crucial that we understand this.

Paul tells us in Rom. 8:9-11 that not only Yahshua lives in us but that the Father also lives in us. They live in us through the holy Spirit. They have made their home with us just as Yahshua promised. More than that, they have made their home within us. This happened after our immersion into the name of Yahshua Messiah when we received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Rom. 11:16 Yahshua is represented as the dough offered as the first fruit.

Paul tells us that if the first fruit is holy the whole lump us holy. Paul goes on to say that if the root so holy so are the branches. The whole lump and the branches are us. Yahshua’s true disciples, His assembly.

Something to keep in mind here is that the lump is holy because of the first fruit offered, Yahshua.The branches are holy because of the root Yahshua.This will never change. Yahweh and Yahshua are the source of all holiness.

We are a temple, Eph. 2:19-22 We as the temple are built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets with Yahshua as the chief cornerstone. Together we are all built into a holy temple as a dwelling place for Elohim through the holy Spirit. THIS TEMPLE IS HOLY GROUND.

Let me repeat that. THIS TEMPLE IS HOLY GROUND

In 1 Cor. 6:19-20 we are told again that we are temples of the holy Spirit of Yahweh and Yahshua. Paul reminds us that our actions should bring praise and glory to them. We are holy because of their presence within us. Their presence ensures the holiness of their surroundings. Our thoughts and actions must reflect that holiness. This is a concept that the Israelites never did grasp but we must understand it fully. Our relationship with Yahweh and Yahshua depend on it.

Yahshua tells us in Matt. 5:14-16 that we are the light of the world. We are to illuminate the spiritual darkness of this world with the aim of bringing praise and glory to Yahweh and Yahshua. What is the source of this light? Is it from us?

1 John 1:5 and John 1:6-9 tell us the Yahweh and Yahshua are the true light that shines in the darkness. Darkness cannot be where light is. Light overcomes the darkness and reveals what the dark was hiding. That light that comes from them is their great holiness.

We are the light of the world. The light that emanates from us is that of the holy Spirit of Yahweh and Yahshua. It is the light of their holiness that shines from us. It is their light that we reflect to others. Yahweh and Yahshua illuminate us and we reflect that light to the world. We must always remember that this light that we reflect is not our own. This light and this holiness comes from Yahweh and Yahshua.

This light is not a harsh blinding light. It is a soft warm glow that should attract others to it. Yahweh and Yahshua are loving kind and gentle and this is what we are to reflect to those we encounter in our daily lives.

We are holy because Yahweh is holy and dwells within us. Yahweh’s holiness ensures the holiness of His surroundings. The Israelites did not reflect the holiness of Yahweh. Our thoughts and actions must. We are holy because Yahweh is holy. We carry holiness with us everywhere we go, to the workplace, shopping, school and anywhere else we may go. We are holy ground, sacred space. We are Yahweh’s temple. Yahweh’s temple is holy ground. Yahweh is within this holy temple. Yahshua is within this holy temple. This temple is holy because they are holy.

There is no place within us for uncleanness or evil. We are filled with the glorious light of the holiness of Yahweh and Yahshua. Let us reflect that holy light to those we encounter throughout our lives. We are holy because Yahweh is Holy. Let us prove it by the purity of our lives. HALLELUYAH. May Yahweh bless your studies

Elder Dave Ganton