Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 413)
1 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!
2 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.
3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinfulness thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love and purity.
4 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!
Text: Reginald Heber; Music: John B. Dykes; Public Domain
Devotion
“Come, See, Stay”
The week ends with two hymns, bookends to this week’s message. The first, “Holy, Holy, Holy” is a morning song inviting us to join the unending chorus of heavenly praise. The second, “Shall We Gather at the River,” invites us to lay our burdens down. Both rely on images and promises in the Book of Revelation.
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!” written by Anglican Bishop Reginald Heber for Trinity Sunday, begins by calling us to worship the blessed Trinity. In verse two the saints add their voices in praise to the majesty of heaven. Despite human limits to see, verse three proclaims the holiness and power of God. At the end, all creation—“earth, sky, and sea”—join the song of praise.
This hymn transports me to significant moments in my life: to childhood mornings in our country church; to funerals of beloved wives, relatives, and friends; to the first services of the congregations that I started. In fact, I cannot sing, or even contemplate this hymn with dry eyes. Music and songs have that kind of power, especially in worship.
How is it for you? Do you have hymns or worship songs that touch your heart in this way? Can you name them? Recommend them to others? Sing them? I encourage you to not miss the opportunity.
Prayer
Abiding Spirit, thank you for connecting us to the Holy Trinity, Father and Son and You. Forgive our reluctance to trust and rely on you, especially in the holy moments of life. We count on your love and grace. Amen.