Exegeting the Hymns #79 - Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy
w/m - Reginald Heber

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
only Thou art holy; There is none beside thee
perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

One of my favorite RC Sproul quotes about the holiness of God: “Only once in sacred Scripture is an attribute of God elevated to the third degree. Only once is a characteristic of God mentioned three times in succession. The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love; or mercy, mercy, mercy; or wrath, wrath, wrath; or justice, justice, justice. It does say that he is holy, holy, holy that the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Theologically, we do not believe that there is distinction in God’s attributes. For instance, we don’t believe God is love, excluding His justice. So when we say God is holy, we also know that He is also love, mercy, wrath, and justice, but it is interesting to note the emphasis on the holiness of God in scripture.  

One of my favorite Sproul illustrations is where he puts one volunteer on one side of the stage and says this person represents Jesus’ holiness, then puts another volunteer on the other side of the stage and says this person represents Adolph Hitler. Then he calls for a third volunteer and says this is the Apostle Paul and asks the congregation where on the spectrum Paul should stand. The correct answer is right next to Hitler because when compared to the holiness of God, the difference in our holiness is negligible. THAT’S how holy our God is.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee. Everyone worships. The question is who will we worship. One who sees the holiness of God in the pages of scripture should respond by living every day in humble service to their Lord. It brings forth praise in the heart of a soul that sees clearly their sin and unworthiness.

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity! Just because Jesus took on flesh and lived in this world does not make Him any less holy than the Father. Jesus lived in this dirty fallen world, but was uncorrupted by it.

All the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. Any honor the saints may receive as His children, and any glory we may share in His presence, we will certainly turn back to Him. He deserves all the glory.

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. The phrase “holy, holy, holy” appears only 2 times in the Bible, in Isaiah and Revelation. Both times, the phrase is spoken by heavenly creatures. Even though they are spirit beings in the presence of God, they are nonetheless created. They, like us, are creatures. He is the creator. He is eternal in a way that we are not.

Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity. John 1:18 says no man has seen God. If we did behold His full glory in our sinful flesh, we would be consumed. However, He has given us a glimpse of His holiness, His power, His glory, His love. It is through the Word who took on flesh, Jesus Christ, and in the inerrant, inspired, and sufficient written Word of God.

All Thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea. God’s holiness is seen in His attributes as well as His works. He will be seen Holy in both His judgment of the wicked as well as His grace and mercy to His sheep. Thank God today that you serve a holy God who, in His love, has made you holy.

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