Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s close the Holy theme inspired by the hymn of Holy, Holy, Holy!

In today’s scripture, Revelation 4:8 NLT
[8] Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

Consider…
The Holy theme posts for the week have all been inspired by the songs I chose for each day. Today’s post will follow suit.

Many of us are familiar with today’s song, which is also the title of today’s post. Given that familiarity, I thought it my be nice to look at some historical perspectives about this iconic hymn.

My Google search provided the following…
“Holy, Holy, Holy” by Reginald Heber (1783-1826) is unique in many regards. Indeed, it spans many Christian traditions and centuries, unifying them in four timeless stanzas. Not only that, but Heber was an Anglican bishop whose ministry spanned continents and races, placing him as one of the heroes of the Christian faith.

Perhaps the most intriguing characteristic of the hymn is how the text does not initiate praise, but instead encourages the singer to join in an endless song. Both Isaiah 6:1-5 and Revelation 4:2-11 inspire this hymn, spanning the Testaments, reminding us that the Trisagion (thrice holy) has been uttered in worship for centuries. Isaiah received his vision in the eighth century B.C.; John the Apostle recorded his revelation in the first century C.E.; while Reginald Heber composed his hymn in 1826, in the nineteenth century.

I like the fact that the hymn was meant to encourage the singer to join an endless song over an impulsive praise.

I also appreciate the way the timelessness of the song, spanning both the old and new testaments, as well as, “many Christian traditions and centuries, unifying them in four timeless stanzas”, engenders unity in worship.

The unison refrain of Holy, Holy, Holy reminds me of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:2-6 (NLT)…
[2] Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. [3] Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [4] For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

If I had to summarize Paul’s exhortation, I would say, “be on one accord for the Lord”.

In a time where divisiveness and separatism appear to be the pillars of politically and ethnically focused religions that claim to be Christians, it’s good to be reminded in song that we should be united in love and worship of the Triune God who is Holy, Holy, Holy!

The disharmonic ways that divide us are not new. Paul pointed out the same issue in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 (NLT), when he wrote…
[12] Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” [13] Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

Unfortunately, almost two millennia later, with Bible in hand, many believers are still more focused on man and this world than God and His Kingdom.

This makes me think of the admonition of James 4:4-5 (NLT)…
[4] You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. [5] Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

We would do well to remember, placing anything above God is making an idol.

But what would happen if we sang Holy, Holy, holy before engaging others in political debates, ethnic injustices tyraids, or theological dissertations? What would happen in our minds and attitudes if we paused and sang…

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

I believe this focus on the only Holy God would help Ephesians 4:13-16 (NLT) come to fruition with fellow believers…
[13] This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. [14] Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. [15] Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. [16] He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

If fellow sinners focus on a Holy God, they can grow more like Christ. The scripture also pointed out we would be able to see how each other fits in the body of Christ rather than look at what we perceive as spiritually broken in them. The Holy Spirit gave me the image of engine gears. Separately, they look like broken wheels with missing spaces, yet working together they fit perfectly to make engines run. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit showed me that He is the oil that helps the gears operate properly and effectively.

Like gears, us believers need to join together to move the love and grace of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

I also wonder what would be different about our days if we started them singing…

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!

If we woke meditating on Lamentations 3:23 (NLT), which declares…
[23] Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

What would happen if we went through the day mindful of our merciful and mighty God? How would our interactions with others be different?

I believe beginning the day focusing on the Holy, holy, holy Truine God would make our life of worship priority over our work, and life overall.

Lastly, what would change if before we pridefully made claims of what we believe belongs to us, we sang…

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

I think it would remind us to remember what Psalms 24:1 (NLT) says…
[1] The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

Never forget that everything and everyone belongs to God. Also recognize everyone includes you.

Thus we should live mindful of Psalms 100:3 (NLT), which tells us to…
[3] Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Fellow saint of God, join me in living a life that sings…

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.

Today’s Song is…
Holy, Holy, Holy

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)