SONG STUDY 5: HOLY HOLY HOLY (LORD GOD ALMIGHTY)

Song Study (5) HOLY HOLY HOLY

Reginald Heber 1783-1826

This hymn was written by Bishop Reginald Heber around 1810. As an Anglican clergyman in England he wrote many hymns of which this is probably the best known. In 1823 he was made Bishop of Calcutta in India, a huge territory which included Australia in those days. He lived only another 3 years.

The familiar tune is by Dr JB Dykes, composer of quite a few well known hymn tunes. Its theme is the absolute purity and supremacy of God.

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwuDSw-9cUQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHrNNM23p8

 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 wast, 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 power, 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.

Verse 1

The first scene is revealed in Isaiah 6: 1 - 4, with input from passages like Psalm 5: 3, 59: 16 and 89: 8.

“Merciful and mighty” - 2 great aspects of God’s nature in which His amazing power and love are both seen. See Exodus 34: 6 - 7 

and Psalm 50: 1.

The word “Trinity” is not a Biblical word. In fact, Scripture never states that God is three persons - this is something we conclude from passages like John 14: 15 - 21 and 2 Corinthians 13: 14 (see also the NIV Study Bible notes).

Verse 2

The second scene is found in Revelation 4: 8 - 11 and preceding verses like 4 and 7, with input from other passages like Genesis 3: 24, Isaiah 6: 6 and Ezekiel 10: 1.

“Cherubim and seraphim” are angelic beings associated with the glory of God. See Exodus 25: 17 – 22 and Isaiah 6: 1 – 3.

The Eternal God is revealed in many passages of Scripture like Isaiah 57: 15, Romans 1: 20, Hebrews 13: 8 and John 1: 1.

Translate this line into modern English “Who wast, and art, and evermore shalt be.”

Verse 3

The third scene brings out the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man.

The idea of God dwelling in darkness is seen in many Old Testament passages, but there is also the concept of “unapproachable light”. See Exodus 20: 18 - 21, Psalm 18: 7 - 12, Matthew 4: 12 - 17 and James 1: 17 - 18.

The fact that man is too sinful to approach God and see His glory is found throughout the Old Testament (see for example Exodus 33: 17 - 23 and Isaiah 6: 5 – 7), but see also Hebrews 10: 19 - 22 which speaks of how we may approach God because of the sacrifice of Jesus. See also Hebrews 12: 18 - 25 where we are warned of the consequences of not taking God seriously.

 Verse 4

The theme this time is all of God’s creation praising Him. This is a common message of the psalms. See for example Psalm 145: 10, 148: 1 - 4 and 150: 6.

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