In our contemporary worship music, we often focus on Jesus being loving (which He is!) and that there is joy in being filled with the Holy Spirit (Thank God!) that is a part of our worship, but in all the clamor, we rarely pause to recognize the Holiness of the God we serve. The song Holy Holy Holy, written by missionary Bishop Reginald Heber, was not widely known during his lifetime, but his wife collected this and various other hymns which he had composed and found a publisher for them the year after his death. The testimony of this young and dedicated follower of Jesus, whose life goals had nothing to do with fame or popularity are a challenge for us today. The first three words and often repeated throughout the hymn are “Holy – Holy – Holy.” These words are found in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments, and they remind us that we serve a perfectly Holy God who exists in Three Persons. As I was listening to the words again today, I realized that God’s triune nature is also reflected in the final words of verse three: “Perfect in power, in love and purity.” As I thought on that line I could see how they reflect the awesome wonder of God’s holiness. First our Father, “Perfect in power,” the creator of the Heavens and the Earth who holds all things together in the universe simply by the power of His word. Then a second Holy for the Son, who came to us in the manger of Bethlehem and left us after suffering for our sins on the Cross of Calvary, He is certainly Perfect in love. Last of all, the Holy Spirit, who fill convicts of sin, disciplines, guides, comforts and helps, all in His perfect purity. Together as we sing through the stanzas of this hymn, we begin to get just a glimpse of what the angels see as they continually worship before the throne day and night for ever and ever and ever!
I love that song.
Some of the more modern worship music is sadly lacking in praise for God because it is me-centered instead of God-centered.
Amen, though not all it is so sadly true for many.
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