Holiness For All

“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.” (Zec 14:20-21 AV)

The pots and bowls were used for two distinct purposes.  They were also of different materials and quality.  The pots were earthenware made for seething meat over a fire.  The bowls were made of brass and used to gather blood from a sacrifice to apply to the altar.  The first was used for temporal needs and would be covered in evidence of its use.  The latter would be used for sacred purposes and ceremonially cleansed.  The first was common and used for temporal reasons.  The latter was special and used for sacred reasons.  However, when used for the purposes for which God intended, they were both holy.  Condition alone did not determine holiness.  A newly formed seething pot that sat unused was not considered holy.  A brass bowl, newly formed and polished was not considered holy.  Proper conditioning and use determined holiness.  This means holiness is not determined by one’s call or qualifications for that call.  Rather, holiness is determined by preparation for and execution of a divinely appointed purpose.

Somewhere along the timeline of Israel, they misunderstood the principle of holiness.  The seething pot, because it was a cooking vessel, was considered common and unclean.  The brass bowl, because it was used in the sacrifices of the tabernacle, we automatically considered holy.  What Israel forgot is the principle of divine decree.  No matter the vessel, as long as they were prepared and used, they were considered holy.  Somewhere along the line, the church may have forgotten the same truth.  Especially where it applies to people.  Social status, personality, abilities, public versus private ministry, or education are not determining factors to a person’s holiness.  Even though outward appearance is important, outward appearance alone does not define someone as holy.  There is a word of encouragement here for the seething pots.  Those who work for the LORD in more mundane or temporally defined ways are no less holy before the LORD than those who are serving in capacities of public attention or leadership.

Note in particular the promise given to the pots.  Notice also the distinction given to the Canaanites.  The promise to the pots of seething (the Canaanites) that their ministry will touch the lives of everyone who comes to worship.  The same is not given to the bowls.  The common and earthen vessels are met with those who need that which is contained within.  The bowls have become obsolete by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The pots of seething are never outdated.  People will need nourishment.  It reminds me of Paul’s comparison of the human body to the church.  The more needful parts are the more comely parts.  The big toe or thumb is needed more than the head or heart.  The Canaanite, or the Gentile, was forbidden from tabernacle service.  Only the Levitical priesthood could do service at the temple or tabernacle.  When Jesus comes, then all will be able to serve.  There is no distinction.  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Ga 3:28 AV)   As long as we are in the center of God’s will striving after Christlikeness and purpose, then we are considered holy.  Praise be to God.