Holy Holy Holy, Song Story

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“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” (Revelation 4:8 NLT)

So why “Holy”? Why is “Holy” the word the angels choose to unceasingly declare in the presence of God? I have often asked myself that question. What does it even mean? It certainly must mean something more amazing and beautiful than most of us understand. Even the Bible dictionary hardly helps us understand the depth and beauty of this word:

“set apart, holy, sacred, or ‘other'” (source)

That definition doesn’t really do it for me. How bout you? (This article helped!) I like how in this article the author adds “otherness, transcendent and totally other”.

Transcendant. I like that.

This following video is a must watch. It was interesting and extremely informative:

He is the Transcendant Source. The Creator and Sustainer of all that is. My best way to explain Holy is to say that God is absolutely perfect in every of his most wonderful attributes. His holiness contains them all. Love, Joy, Peace, etc… He is absolute perfection in every way.

And then, he commands us to be holy.

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Peter 14-17 NIV)

I have to believe that within His command lies the ability. Just as through his command the heavens and earth were created, so too by his command are we made holy.

holy-is-the-lord-god-almightyHere is where my mind goes with this: When your Creator says to you, “Be Holy”, it has an effect on you. It’s like when Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3) His command actually does the cleansing work. His command changes reality. He has made it so. And yet, the Scripture says God alone is holy: “For you alone are holy.” (Revelation 15:4)

So what exactly is happening here? What does that mean for me and you?

God alone is holy and yet he commands us to be holy. Jesus is the answer to this dilemma. Scripture teaches us that Jesus has brought us into God and made us partakers of his divine nature. He has made us one with God if we have received Jesus as our Savior. His prayer in John 17 was answered!

Lyrics:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

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, bless’d 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,
Which 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 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!

Song History:

Reginald Heber (1783-1826) wrote this in 1826 for Trinity Sunday celebration. He died suddenly that same year at the age of 43 and his wife later found and passed on these lyrics to John B. Dykes (1823-1876) who composed the music for publication.