I hear many repeat the first part of that verse in Proverbs but I rarely hear that second part:
And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10b
I can confirm what Tozer is saying about the error and ‘great harm’ of seeking holiness and not the Holy One because I found myself caught in it.
Our church’s worship team is going through a Bible reading plan and we just read today from 1 Samuel 4. It's about the days of Eli the High Priest when the people brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines without a word from the Lord. They were trying to wield God's glory and power the same way they did in the past but according to their own word. Like my confession yesterday, they were dictating to the Lord their will and desires! And like me they fell flat on their faces (or in the case of Eli, he fell back off his chair).
There is no power in the ‘doing’ of the word if the ‘doing’ of the word doesn't come from union with the Word. He has exalted his word above all his name; works of prayer and thankfulness simply flow from it (Psalm 138:2). It’s natural like inhaling and exhaling. Many will go to Him in the end calling him Lord and recounting all the works they did in His name but they will be cast out. Why? Because He never knew them (Matthew 7:23). I did a little bit of research and found out that the word ‘knew’ is the Greek word ginōskō. This word means to be acquainted with and can also be used to describe intimacy between a man and a woman (Blue Letter Bible). The Hebrew equivalent is yāḏaʿ (yuh-deyh’), like when Adam knew his wife and when Cain yāḏaʿ his wife and when Adam knew his wife again and when Elkanah knew Hannah his wife. In the Greek, ginōskō is translated as kept her a virgin when Joseph knew not Mary until she gave birth to Jesus.
All our works in striving towards holiness and righteousness are filthy rags if they don’t flow out of intimate union with Him (Isaiah 46:6). Know the holy.
My wife Alysha and I host a podcast called Disrupt the Comfort. In it we discuss what the Lord has been teaching us and how the Lord is moving us out of darkness into light. Look us up on YouTube or Spotify.
Also, please heck out our woodworking shop! It helps fund our Disrupt the Comfort ministry. If you have any custom furniture or home décor needs, please reach out! mbwwstudios@gmail.com