When Holiness Undoes Us—and Remakes Us

Experiencing God

“So, I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone … for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’” (Isaiah 6:5)

There are moments in Scripture that feel less like stories we read and more like mirrors held up to our own souls. Isaiah’s encounter with God in the temple is one of those moments. I find myself slowing down every time I read Isaiah 6, because it confronts a quiet assumption many of us carry—that we can encounter God deeply and yet remain largely the same. Isaiah thought he knew something of holiness until the day he truly saw the Lord. The Hebrew phrase nidmêti—“I am undone”—carries the sense of being unraveled, brought to silence, reduced to truth. This is not theatrical guilt; it is the honest response of a human life suddenly measured against the blazing holiness of God.

An exalted view of God has a way of clarifying everything else. Isaiah’s vision did not begin with a confession of sin; it began with worship. The seraphim cried “Holy, holy, holy”—qadosh, qadosh, qadosh—and the thresholds shook. Only then did Isaiah see himself clearly. A diminished view of God, by contrast, always distorts our self-understanding. When God is small, sin becomes manageable and self-esteem quietly inflates. As A. W. Tozer famously wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

When our vision of God is reduced, our concern for holiness follows suit, and we begin measuring righteousness horizontally—against others—rather than vertically, before the Lord.

Isaiah may well have been considered a godly man before this encounter. Yet standing in the presence of divine holiness exposed not only his own sin but the brokenness of the people among whom he lived. This is a consistent biblical pattern. Peter, encountering the power of Jesus in the miraculous catch of fish, fell at His knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Holiness does not produce self-righteousness; it produces humility. Genuine worship leaves us changed because it brings us face-to-face with truth. John Calvin observed that “man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face.” Isaiah’s cry, “Woe is me,” was not despair; it was awakening.

This passage also presses a searching question upon us: have we grown comfortable in an unholy world? It is possible to adapt so thoroughly to the patterns around us that sin feels ordinary and holiness feels extreme. When someone does live with visible integrity, we may label them “superspiritual,” not realizing that the standard has quietly shifted. Scripture warns against this subtle deception. Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Conformity numbs the conscience; transformation sharpens it. When we only compare ourselves to those around us, we may assume we are doing well. When we encounter the holy God, comparison falls silent, and honesty takes its place.

The life of Jesus embodies this holiness in human form. He did not merely speak about sanctification; He lived it among ordinary people. His presence revealed hearts without coercion. Those who encountered Him were either drawn toward repentance or pushed into resistance. There was no neutral ground. As theologian N. T. Wright notes, Jesus “embodied the holiness of God in the midst of everyday life,” making the divine visible and unavoidable. If I am truly experiencing God through Christ, something in me must change. Worship that leaves my habits, attitudes, and relationships untouched is not biblical worship.

Isaiah’s story does not end with condemnation. A coal from the altar touched his lips, and grace met conviction. God’s holiness does not crush; it cleanses. The goal is not shame but sanctification—being set apart for God’s purposes. When God deals with us, He produces a degree of purity the world cannot manufacture. Over time, that consecrated life becomes a testimony. Others begin to notice—not perfection, but difference. Jesus Himself said, “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). People will not trust Jesus merely because of our words, but because they see a life shaped by a holy God.

Experiencing God, then, is not an abstract spiritual exercise. It is an encounter that reorders priorities, refines desires, and reshapes witness. If today’s worship does not unsettle us at least a little, we may need to ask whether we are truly seeing the Lord high and lifted up. The prayer “Woe is me” is not the end of the journey; it is the doorway through which renewal begins.

For a thoughtful exploration of God’s holiness and its transforming impact, see this article from Desiring God: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-holiness-of-god

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When Worship Shapes Us

DID YOU KNOW

Did You Know that idols have always promised more than they could ever deliver?

Psalm 135 gives us an unvarnished look at the empty world of ancient idolatry. Craftsmen in Israel’s neighboring nations poured themselves into the creation of idols—fashioning silver and gold into images representing their gods. Priests would perform elaborate rituals, “inviting” the spirit of the deity to reside within the object. The idol would then be clothed, adorned, and treated like royalty. Food was placed before it. Words of honor were spoken over it. The more extravagant the idol, the more powerful the worshipers believed it to be. Yet Psalm 135 cuts through the glitter instantly: “They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see” (vv. 16). The psalmist exposes the truth—idols are lifeless, fabricated, and powerless. Nothing about them is divine. Their claim to power is nothing but imagination mixed with fear.

It is tempting on the Lord’s Day to believe that such primitive devotion has no place in modern life, yet the ancient pattern is alive and well. While our idols may not sit on pedestals or wear gold crowns, they still demand our allegiance, our time, our trust, and sometimes our identity. Today’s idols glow on screens, speak through advertisements, or whisper through cultural expectations. They may look like success, politics, relationships, money, or digital approval. Modern idols do not require temples; they live inside the human heart. And just like in Psalm 135, they promise happiness but deliver emptiness. They promise identity but leave us fragmented. They promise security but collapse under pressure. The truth is as old as the psalm: anything we trust more deeply than God becomes an idol—and it cannot save.

When we pause long enough to look at the idols we create, we find a gentle invitation rising from this psalm: turn your eyes to the Lord, the One who actually delivers, sustains, and speaks. He alone is worthy of your trust. And as you worship Him, you will discover that every lesser love begins to fall into its rightful place.

Did You Know that worship not only reveals what we love but shapes who we become?

Psalm 135:18 offers a sobering insight: “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” The psalmist is teaching a deep spiritual truth—human beings become like what they behold. When Israel looked to idols, they gradually lost spiritual sensitivity. Like the images they adored, their hearts became unable to “see,” “hear,” or “speak” truth. Their spiritual reflexes dulled. They lost discernment. Their worship shaped their identity. This principle echoes throughout Scripture. In Jeremiah 2, the Lord says Israel “followed worthless idols and became worthless.” Meanwhile, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that those who “contemplate the Lord’s glory” are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. Worship—true worship—forms the soul.

In our modern world, we often assume worship simply expresses what we value. But Scripture insists it also transforms what we value. What we regularly turn our hearts toward will eventually shape how we think, speak, act, and even desire. If our functional worship centers on news cycles, we become anxious. If it centers on online approval, we become insecure. If it centers on money, we become restless and unsatisfied. Worship does not leave us neutral. It molds us. It shapes our character the way a potter shapes clay. This is why the psalmist calls God’s people to remember His works—His deliverance from Egypt, His faithfulness in the wilderness, His power over kings (Psalm 135:8–12). Remembering is an act of worship. It recalibrates the heart toward truth.

The invitation today is simple yet life-changing: turn your gaze intentionally toward the Lord. Let His character shape your character. Let His faithfulness form your thoughts. Let His goodness soften your spirit. And as you draw near, you will discover that worship is not only something you do—it is something God uses to transform who you are.

Did You Know that praising God guards your heart from the pull of idols?

Psalm 135 opens with a call to praise: “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to His name, for that is pleasant” (v. 3). Praise is not merely an emotional expression—it is spiritual alignment. It reorders our desires, placing God at the rightful center. When Israel praised the Lord for His deliverance from Egypt, they were anchoring their hearts in His saving power. When they remembered how God brought them into the land of Canaan (vv. 8–12), their hearts were strengthened against the temptations of the nations around them. Praise strengthened their perspective. It reminded them that no idol—no matter how ornate—could compare to the God who split seas, broke chains, and kept covenant.

This principle holds true today. When our hearts drift, praise pulls them back. In a world of constant noise, praise quiets the spirit so we can hear God again. In a culture filled with competing loyalties, praise reestablishes the Lord as supreme. When worry tries to overpower us, praise reminds us who holds tomorrow. When we’re tempted to place hope in circumstances or people, praise reminds us that only the Lord is worthy. Psalm 135 teaches us that praise is pleasant not only because it honors God but because it heals the worshiper. Praise trains our hearts to let go of imposters and cling to what is eternal.

Today, take a moment to intentionally lift your voice in praise. Sing a hymn. Whisper a prayer. Meditate on a psalm. Let gratitude rise. You will find that as praise increases, idolatry loses its grip.

Did You Know that God’s greatness is meant to produce trust, not fear?

Psalm 135:5–6 proclaims, “I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” These verses declare a God who is sovereign over everything—creation, nations, history, and even the unseen realms. For Israel, this was not an abstract theology; it was a lifeline. God’s greatness meant protection. It meant guidance. It meant that the One who led them out of bondage would never fail them. His power was not distant but personal. When Israel worshiped idols, their hearts were ruled by fear; when they worshiped the Lord, their hearts were stabilized by trust.

When you and I remember God’s greatness, we see life differently. His sovereignty reframes our worries. His authority over creation reminds us that no crisis outruns His wisdom. His faithfulness in history reminds us that His promises do not collapse under pressure. When idols fail, God remains steadfast. When futures look uncertain, God remains certain. This is the heartbeat of worship—the realization that trusting Him is not only right, it is safe. C. S. Lewis once said, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” Psalm 135 whispers the same truth: trust is renewed daily, especially on the Lord’s Day, when we remember how great our God really is.

Wherever you find yourself today—facing decisions, uncertainty, or competing desires—let His greatness settle your spirit. The idols of this world cannot hold you, guide you, or save you. But the Lord can, and the Lord will.

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