Past posts in this series:
5 Classic Hymns You’ll have to “Pry from My Cold Dead Fingers” #1
5 Classic Hymns You’ll have to “Pry from My Cold Dead Fingers” #2
5 Classic Hymns You’ll have to “Pry from My Cold Dead Fingers” #3
The book of Revelation simply scares a lot of Christians. Especially preachers. I remember asking the ladies’ class in Bonham, Texas once if there was anything in particular that they would like me to teach in a future class, and several said that they would appreciate a class on the book of Revelation. One, however, spoke up with a message of caution. My good sister, Polly, sitting to my right. She smiled and said that every preacher in her church back in Oklahoma who had ever taught a class on Revelation was fired before he got through! Indeed, sometimes people can get very defensive of their views of interpretation of the letter. And what a pity! It was book meant to bring, “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,” (Rev. 1:4). The truth is, Revelation is a book about hope, about the wonder of God, and about the ultimate triumph of the good of God’s grace over evil. It is a book that brings one to a great sense of awe before God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a book that should draw Christians together in praise.
This brings us to song #4 on my list: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The title comes straight from the throne room of God in Revelation chapter 4. Here is the scene as John describes his vision:
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty- four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty- four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
Revelation 4:2-6, NIV
It is an incredible picture, and I have a strong hunch that John would say these words do not begin to do justice to what he saw. How humbling it must have been. How humbling it will be! Scenes like this still inspire such songs as MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” or “Revelation Song.” Faced with the awe of God, one cannot help but worship. And so those who were before the throne in John’s vision did worship as, “day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’”
What follows is an eruption of praise from all who are before the throne. As the cherubim and seraphim cry out, “Holy, holy, holy,” the twenty-four elder encircling the throne cast off their crowns and bow before the Lord saying:
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Now this is what makes “Holy, Holy, Holy” such a special hymn to me. Verse 2 of the song is the description of the events of Revelation 4, and in a very real sense, we are not just singing the song they sang. We are told in Revelation 4 that this is the song they sing. So when we sing this words, we are quite literally singing the song that echoes through the very throne room of God. We join heaven’s song! Remember that the next time you are lead in this hymn in the worship assembly and see if it doesn’t give a refreshed appreciation of one of the church’s great hymns.
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 crystal 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.
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P.S. We Church of Christ song leaders are really bad about skipping very meaningful verses from time to time. Warning: if you skip verse 2 of this song in my presence, wear shin guards, because my Justin Ropers might come kickin’. 
Don’t worry; first traditions 5:19 states: “In a four verse song, the third verse shalt thou skip should it seem wise in thine eyes for times sake; likewise in a three verse song, thou shalt skip the second verse should it seem wise in thine eyes.” The first book of traditions clearly lets us know that in a four verse song like that it will be the 3rd verse skipped and not the 2nd.
Oh, but I did forget about 1Trad 5:22 does say, “in the giving of the invitation should the preaching runneth over thou shalt lead only first and last verse, lest the crowd stoneth you,” but “Holy, Holy, Holy” is hardly ever led as an invitation song, so I think you are still safe.
Ah, I know those passages well, Damien! Thanks for the laugh.