| Rev. Benjamin R. Faust Sunday, February 17, 2002 "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:2) It seems as though in today's world, pure beauty is obscured by iniquity. The word "romance" often congures up images of illicit, sexually-oriented activities. The word "innocence" is increasingly reserved for infants and some young children, or is used as a lure for audiences of perversion. The word "virginity" has all but lost its sacred honor, and an estimated 20% of all 13-year-old girls have already lost their virginity, and have thus been defiled. The word "holiness" is often reserved for monks or nuns, or for certain protestant denominations thought to be extreem. Yet "holiness" in the Scriptures is something of great beauty and unequaled value. That which is twisted and poluted appeals to the senses, but that which is pure and unspotted shines with a beauty which defies all earthly rivalry. We can use printing plates to produce a million copies of fine art. But there is only one masterpiece, which took perhaps many months of careful attention by the artist. To thrill the senses, one need only a few cookie-cutter ingredients. It is a cheap process, and generally does no good at best, usually bringing some kind of harm and desensitisation. To create beauty, something greater is required. It is not cheap, but of great value. And yet it can be very simple and free. True beauty can be found in a little child's smile, yet it is costly enough to be presented as a gift for a great king. "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." The beauty of purity and holiness are very costly and precious, and are fit for a king. When we ponder what glory is due unto God, we cannot fathom such glory and splendor; and yet we give God the glory that is due unto his name when we worhip him in the beauty of holiness. "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever!" (2 Chronicles 20:21) The singers were not set before the army for entertainment. Entertainment in battle would be a distraction, and would cause the army to be defeated and destroyed. As the singers praised God and the beauty of holiness, the presence of the Lord brought them victory in battle. We find ourselves battling temptation, depression, and doubt. The more we focus on our battle, the stronger it becomes. To overcome these battles, our attention must be focused in the right direction. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9) The singers praised the beauty of holiness, proclaiming that the mercy of the Lord endures forever! By putting their attention on things that are pure and holy, and on the goodness of God, they won the victory. When we focus on taking care of God's business, he will focus on taking care of ours. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1-3) Are you brokenhearted? Have you been taken captive by sin? Are you bound by addiction? Are you going through a time of mourning? Are you weighed down by the spirit of heaviness? The Spirit of the Lord brings liberty to those who are bound, the oil of joy to those who mourn, and the garment of praise to those who are heavy-hearted. When we give unto God that which is burned to ashes in our lives, he will give us beauty. We then will become trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. When you are faced with temptation, choose to praise the Lord, setting your eyes on him and him alone. When you are weighed down with heaviness and depression, choose to praise the Lord, placing your attention fully on him and his goodness. And you will then taste of his beauty, which brings freedom and joy. "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Psalm 12:6) "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." (Psalm 19:8) A couple of weeks ago, we learned that what we put into our hearts by setting in front of our eyes and ears, that will become our life, touching everything we do, say, think, and feel. Beauty, purity, and holiness will work a work of cleanliness of heart. The Word of the Lord is pure, holy, perfect, and beautiful. Our addictions, bondages, and depression will begin to wear away as our attention is daily and permanently fixed upon the Lord, upon his Word, and upon his presence. For our lives to be beautiful, they must be holy. And for us to be holy, we must keep our attention on Jesus; and we will become more and more like him. The Lord is altogether lovely; all beauty is found in him. His ways are just and right, pure and holy. "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34:8) Once you have tasted of the goodness of the Lord, you will see that he indeed is good; that he is perfect; that he is to be desired above all else; and that he is beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words. "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour." (Psalm 45:10-12) When we become a part of God's family, our bloodline changes. We become sons and daughters of the King of Kings. We are then to incline our ear unto the Great King. Our loyalty is first to him. Our identity does not lie without our family, but within the Lord. And when we come to God in this way, he will desire our beauty. When we humble ourselves before him in trust and obedience, he will give us his robe of righteousness, and the beauty of holiness will begin to spring forth within us, changing us from glory to glory into the image of God's perfect Son. The Spirit of the Lord beautifies and purifies. Many adorn themselves with costly jewels and fine clothes. And yet the adornment which truly makes one beautiful, both on the ouside and thoroughly within, is the beauty of the presence of the Lord permeating every area of our life. To become beautiful indeed, adorn yourself with the beauty of holiness. "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Psalm 48:2) "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." (Psalm 50:2) "Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary." (Psalm 96:6) "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth." (Psalm 110:3) "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." (Psalm 149:4) "In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people." (Isaiah 28:5) "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52:7) "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Feel free to call us: Request Prayer |