1:4-5 The Holy One of Israel Holiness is one of God’s central attributes. Israel profaned his holy name by their wickedness, inviting divine punishment through rebellion. God’s people ought to be holy, which means: “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows” (1:17). Because they were intended to be a people who represented God to the world as his children, the suffering of exile was necessary in order to purge Israel’s sin—to make them holy.