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AUGUST 29, 2011
THE HOLIEST OF THE HOLY
In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. (Psalm 89:7, NIV)
Augusta National has the twelfth. A tiny gem of terror lying in wait just across the creek.
Cypress Point winds its way through the dunes, a string of treacherous short holes. And then you come around the bend.
The sixteenth—tee here, green far across the oceanic expanse. One big and beautiful hole.
And then there is the royal and ancient Road Hole at St. Andrews, the original dare-ya!, laid out in stark
defiance against a relatively manageable string of holes that comprise the Old Course.
Each venue has its noted one, the hole that somehow burns brightest in a sky full of wonders. No one would pass up a
chance to play Augusta, Cypress, or St. Andrews should their most beloved holes go to weeds. Without them, the courses are still among the world’s best. But with them—oh, with them…!
In the oldest of construction plans, God established His desire for the sanctuary that would be the place of meeting
between Himself and the priests who ministered on behalf of the people. The entire tabernacle site was holy, set apart for the work of the Lord. But at its heart was the place where God appeared. It was
the Holy of Holies (or the Most Holy Place, depending upon your translation) and it demanded special activity, special reverence, special fear.
What Ethan the Ezrahite, the writer of Psalm 89, understood was that God Himself is like this. He is the jewel among
jewels, the king among kings. Those who are holy call Him holiest.
Psalms, poetic as they are, make it difficult to draw conclusions. Paul wrote to the Romans that “no one is no on
righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). So can there really be a “council of the holy ones,” as Ezra wrote? Indeed, there are none made holy on their own; all grow in holiness by the
work of the Spirit within them. And when we survey both Scripture and the assembly of brothers and sisters we call our local church, we can say, from our point of view, that some are doing a commendable
job of allowing themselves to be sanctified. They have thrown off evil and taken up righteousness. They are members of the “Hall of Faith” we find in Hebrews 11 and the “cloud of
witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1.
But none of even the most sanctified, righteous, “holy” ones deserves the worship given to God. We
appreciate the leaders God gives us; we may even choose to emulate them. But there is only one Holiest, only One who burns brightest for us all. His name is the Lord. He is to be greatly and forever
praised!
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Jeff Hopper
August 29, 2011
Copyright © 2011 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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