‘Who is like You, O LORD,
among the gods?
Who is like You,
glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises,
doing wonders?‘
(Exodus 15:11)
“The expression I pitch upon in the text to handle is “glorious in holiness.” God is magnified or honorable in holiness; so the word יאדיר is translated: “He will magnify the law and make it honorable” (Isa. 42:21).
Your holiness has shone forth admirably in this last exploit against the enemies and oppressors of your people. The holiness of God is His glory, as His grace is His riches.
Holiness is His crown, and His mercy is His treasure. This is the blessedness and nobleness of His nature. It renders Him glorious in Himself and glorious to His creatures that understand anything of this lovely perfection.
Holiness is a glorious perfection belonging to the nature of God. Hence He is in Scripture styled often the Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, the Holy One of Israel.
More often is He entitled “holy” than “almighty,” and set forth by this part of His dignity more than by any other.
This is more affixed as an epithet to His name than any other. You never find it expressed, His “mighty name” or His “wise name” but His “great name” and, most of all, His “holy name.”
This is His greatest title of honor.”
–Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God, ed. Mark Jones, Updated and Unabridged, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022), 2: 1046-1047.
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