Holy, Holy, Holy!

Reginald Heber, an Anglican Bishop, originally intended this hymn to be sung between the creed (Nicaean) and the sermon, specifically on Trinity Sunday. But he met opposition because hymn singing, rather than metrical Psalm reading, was forbidden in the liturgy of the Church of England at the time. Despite his efforts to persuade, Heber would never hear his hymn sung in the church he loved so much. It’s unclear as to when exactly, but Heber may have just missed hearing it sung by parishioners by a few years. It was around the same time of this hymn’s publication that the Archbishop of York sanctioned the use of hymns in the liturgy.

Written in 1826, “Holy, Holy, Holy!” finds it’s inspiration in two main scriptures, Isaiah 6:1-7 and Revelation 4:2-11.

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!

I’m reminded of a more recent lyric, “The sun comes up, there’s a new day dawning, it’s time to sing Your song again…” from Matt Redmond’s “10,000 Reasons”. The morning signals a new beginning, starting afresh (after coffee, of course) and a new opportunity. It is so important that we begin our day praising God! It sets our compass for the rest of the day on the one who created the world and everything in it. Setting our sights on Him in the morning gives us a river of life from which to draw strength, direction, sustenance, and peace. Isaiah 6:3 …”the whole earth is full of his glory!”

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

In Revelation 4:2-11 John gives us a glimpse of the throne room of heaven in the best human description he can. In verse 10, he describes “the 24 elders falling down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

A crown is a symbol of tradition, authority, or maybe triumph. In John’s depiction, we see the elders throwing down their crowns in a clear act of worship. This is in contrast to what we see on earth, maybe to what we see in our own lives. The status we earn or the status we’re given means nothing on earth or in heaven when in the presence of the Almighty.

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.

In my research, I found the following by Stanton Nelson on the website umcdiscipleship.org. “Heber is careful to describe the Trinity without encroaching upon its mystery. This is especially evident with the phrase, “though the darkness hide Thee” in stanza 3, and this separation between God and man is exacerbated by sin (“though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see”). Though we may not see or completely understand the Trinity in its fullness in this lifetime, Heber’s and Dykes’s collaboration reminds us those are not reasons that preclude our worship of the Triune God.”

Isaiah 6:6-7, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” The purification necessary to see, much less approach God, in Isaiah’s time, was through sacrifice. My Reformation Study Bible commentary notes say, “The altar symbolizes purification by blood and the fire, purification by the Spirit. The blood of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit sanctify believers today.”

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!

The words of Jesus in Matthew 24:35 say, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” On that day, all of heaven and earth shall praise the Lord God Almighty! Can you imagine that?! Not only us humans, but everything in ways God ordained that we cannot comprehend.

Psalm 34:1-3 “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

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