Holy, Holy, Holy

Music: John B. Dykes

Lyrics: Reginald Heber

Arranged by Edwin M. Willmington

Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.

We exalt Thy holy name!

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, All saints adore Thee (Holy, holy),

Casting their crowns around the sea (Holy, holy, holy, holy);

Cherubim, seraphim fall down before Thee (Holy, holy),

Who wert and art and ever shalt be (ever shalt be).

Holy, holy, though darkness hide Thee (Holy, holy),

Though sinful men no glory may see (Holy, holy, holy, holy);

Thou art holy, none else beside Thee (Holy, holy),

Perfect in power, love, purity (Holy).

Holy, holy! Holy, holy! Holy, holy! Holy! Holy!

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!

Amen, amen! Amen, amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!

Read Revelation 4.

From the instant he had come into being, he watched. He watched as the One who was separate and above all exercised His holiness by casting out of heaven all that was not. He watched as perfect love designed and created, molded and shaped, a universe into being and then carefully constructed a tiny, flawless jewel to house His most precious possession within the vast confines of that space. He saw the precision of minute designs mesh together, animate and inanimate, tangible and intangible — designs so intricate, no one could possibly understand but the One who was creating. And though he spent an eternity before the throne, he was filled with awe-struck wonder and praise.

From his position seated before the throne, he gazed in amazement as the Breath of Life breathed His very essence into this cherished creation, this thing he called man, who would bear the very likeness of the Infinite One. As with all things, including himself, he knew this man had been created to bring glory to the Holy One. And so with further astonishment bordering on disbelief, he watched as man was then crowned with self-will. How could this be? He knew where self-will could lead, and outside of heaven it rarely led to glorification of the Almighty.

So he continued watching. He watched for many days, as man populated the earth, exercised this self-will, and received judgment in return. He watched as Jehovah chose a friend in one man out of many to make him a nation separate and holy unto God. He leaned closer to see more clearly what was happening the day this friend actually removed his crown of self-will and laid it at the feet of his Lord, as he picked up a knife to kill his own son — in obedience to the command from above. Then he understood, as the Lord accepted the sacrifice of the heart of self-will over the sacrifice of the physical. And he was filled with the satisfaction of the Spirit as he watched the Hand replace His friend's crown mounted with a new and precious jewel.

He continued his study of this unique and esteemed creation for many millennia, watching as time and again a crown of self-will was cast down in favor of obedience and worship, and each time, the hand of God replaced the crown bearing a new jewel of glory on the head of the favored one. He was there when, one by one, chosen prophets were invited to the throne for a glimpse of the Infinite, and he remained as the Beloved Son left to live among them that they might learn.

He watched it all unfold in a plan more perfectly and more intricately designed than the original creation. And he reveled in the moment when each saint would cast his crown, once known as self-will and now known as glory, before the feet of the One Most Holy.

Food for Thought:

From the following verses, what aspects or examples are offered which demonstrate an acknowledgment and acceptance of God's holiness?

I Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 145:21; Isaiah 6:2-3; Luke 1:49;

John 17:11; I Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8-10

A definition of holiness is to be "separated unto God." What is it about God that makes Him holy to you?

Knowing that one day we will all appear before the throne to cast our crowns at Jesus' feet in worship, how can we begin now to cast our crowns before Him and declare Him holy? What will you do specifically this week to cast your crown of self-will before Him in honor and obedience?

Cross References:

Leviticus 20:24...Hence I have said to you, "You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

I Chronicles 16:10...Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

I Chronicles 16:29...Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the Lord in holy array.

Psalm 139:14...I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 145:21...My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord; and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

Isaiah 6:2-3...Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory."

Isaiah 43:3...For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.

Isaiah 43:15..."I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."

Luke 1:49...For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.

John 17:11..."And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as we are."

Romans 1:4...who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:10...For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13...for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Colossians 1:10...so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

I Peter 1:15-16...but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Revelation 4:8...And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, and full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."

Revelation 4:10...the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created."

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for local church use only, without the prior permission of Kimberly H. Shoup.

shoups@ifriendly.com

Back to "Gift From the Heart" page

Back to Choir Devotionals page

Back to Music Ministry Resources page

Back to Shepherd's Staff Worship Music Home Page

Shepherd's Staff Worship Music® --- WillmingTune Productions™

This page was last updated on 05/09/2007. Contact Webmaster.