Song Spotlight: Only A Holy God
by Makayla Guzman
Did you know that over 40% of all teenagers in America need glasses? If you’re like me, then the first time you wore prescription glasses, your whole world changed. I literally didn’t know that humans were suppose to be able to see leaves on trees from across the road, or read without holding the book two inches from your nose, or distinguish between blue and turquoise. I didn’t even realize I had been living with a dull headache from straining to see things around me, only to get back a fuzzy rendering of what others saw in perfect clarity. You can only image how my mind was blown when I was prescribed glasses in 3rd grade and I saw the world for the first time with 20/20.
Unlike the 40% of us who need to have our literal vision adjusted in order to see things as they are, 100% of humanity needs a vision check when it comes to understanding who we are, who God is, and His plan for salvation. We all see things in a way that is distorted (1 Cor. 13:12), our own sin nature making our perspective fuzzy and our spiritual vision skewed. In order for our vision to be clear, we need to see things from God’s perspective. Consider the Bible your spiritual glasses. Through God’s Word, we correct our vision to be in alignment with His vision.
One of the things we consistently distort through our own eyes is our understanding of the holiness of God. We view this attribute as something that will only push us away, rather than seeing it as something that allows Him to provide a way to draw us in. We view the command to be holy like He is holy (1 Peter 1:16) as an impossible task that becomes a legalistic way to measure our own “goodness”. But that is a distorted view of God’s holiness.
One of my favorite things about the song “Only A Holy God” by CityAlight is how it corrects our vision and reminds us how the holiness of God should inspire humble and heartfelt worship. Let’s take a look at the lyrics.
In verse one, we see God’s power over creation. (Nehemiah 9:6, Revelation 17:14, John 12:46)
Who else commands all the hosts of heaven?
Who else could make every king bow down?
Who else can whisper and darkness trembles?
Only a Holy God
In verse two, we see God’s victory over death. (Deuteronomy 4:23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 2:9-11)
What other glory consumes like fire?
What other power can raise the dead?
What other name remains undefeated?
Only a Holy God
In verse three, we see God’s grace to sinners. (Romans 5:6-8, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10)
Who else could rescue me from my failing?
Who else would offer His only Son?
Who else invites me to call Him Father?
Only a Holy God
And in the chorus, we see an invitation to respond to our holy Savior. (1 Samual 2:2, Isaiah 57:15, Exodus 15:11)
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God
This song glorifies the Lord by magnifying His holiness and His power as our gracious Savior. I am so thankful for songs derived from Biblical truth that correct my vision of Jesus - may I always return to the Word to see things clearly as Jesus does!