Hymn History Holy, Holy, Holy

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Good morning to each one of you on this Friday June 19. I am posting a hymn history for the powerful hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy" as it a hymn worth knowing about. 

The lyrics and an excellent choral presentation are included for your edification and blessing.   Bob

In a world filled with false gods, "Holy, Holy, Holy" exalts the one true God. This joyful hymn celebrates God's eternal and powerful presence. And it also reminds us of our own destiny, for someday, we too will sing "around the glassy sea."

Until that day, though, we live in a world of darkness and shadows. Yet even here, we can catch glimpses of God's holiness and power. We can see the awesome creation of the Father, experience the redemption of the Son, and marvel at the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives. God truly is unique among the gods of our world. He's holy--in every aspect of his triune identity.

So take time to look for God's holiness. All around us, God's creation showcases his holiness. And when we truly open our eyes to it, we can't help but raise our voices with the angels in singing "Holy, Holy, Holy."

Finally, consider the words of 1 Peter 1:15: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." For in addition to praising God, "Holy, Holy, Holy" should stir us to live holy lives. Today, as you go about your daily tasks, take notice of God's holiness. And then ask yourself this important question: "Can others see God's holiness in the way I live?"

Reginald Heber wrote "Holy, Holy, Holy" while serving as vicar of Hodnet, Shropshire, England. He was the first to compile a hymnal ordering hymns around the church calendar. Wanting to celebrate a triune God, Heber wrote "Holy, Holy, Holy" for Trinity Sunday--a day that reaffirmed the doctrine of the Trinity and was observed eight Sundays after Easter. The hymn was first published in 1826.

Years later, John Dykes composed the tune Nicaea especially for Heber's "Holy, Holy, Holy."

Text and tune were first published together in 1861. Since that time, this popular hymn has appeared in hundreds of hymnals and been translated into many languages.

Heber was impressed by the holiness of God. Whether in England, with the prevalence of vice, or in Calcutta, where people worshiped idols, he would often write "Only Thou art holy." Based on the words of Revelation 4:8, he used the symbolism of three repeatedly throughout his hymn: God is "holy, merciful and mighty," he's "perfect in power, in love and purity," he's worshiped by saints, cherubim, and seraphim, and he's praised "in earth and sky and sea."

Through these consistent units of three, this hymn describes and worships God in three persons. Alfred Lord Tennyson felt "Holy, Holy, Holy" was the world's greatest hymn. It truly does call us to worship our God, falling down before him with those who sing in Revelation 4:8, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Isaiah 6:1  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.  

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 was, and is, and evermore shall 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!


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