This is hymn 47 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 47: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
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 Sinful Man
Thy Glory May Not See,
Only Thou Art Holy;
There Is None Beside Thee,
Perfect In Power, 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.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, we now stand before a hymn that is universally recognized as the supreme song of adoration to the Triune God. “Holy, Holy, Holy” is not merely a hymn; it is theology set to music, a vision of heavenly worship opened to earth. Based on Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah 6:3) and the throne-room scene of Revelation (Revelation 4:8), it lifts our hearts to join the unceasing chorus of creation and the hosts of heaven in declaring the primary, overwhelming attribute of God: His Holiness.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to engage in the highest occupation of the creature: the worship of the Creator for who He is in His transcendent purity and power. It recalibrates our perspective, humbles our pride, and fills us with awe for the “Blessed Trinity.” It is traditionally the first hymn of many services, rightly placing God’s nature at the foundation of our gathering.
1. It is a Hymn of Dawn and Doctrine (Verse 1)
The hymn begins with the eternal cry of heaven: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” This triple invocation is a scriptural formula signifying the supreme, intensifying holiness of God and is a profound allusion to the Trinity. We are invited to make this heavenly praise our first earthly priority: “Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.” Worship is to be our dawn. The verse then balances God’s awe-inspiring attributes: He is both “Merciful and Mighty.” His holiness does not make Him unapproachable because it is tempered with mercy. The verse culminates in the great mystery of our faith: “God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity.” Our worship is directed to the One God who exists in the eternal community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. It is a Hymn of Heavenly Worship (Verse 2)
Our gaze is drawn to the throne room. “All the saints adore Thee,” casting down their hard-won crowns—a symbol of ultimate submission and the acknowledgment that all glory belongs to God alone. The “glassy sea” speaks of transcendent peace and purity before His throne. We are joined by the highest orders of angels, “Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before Thee.” Their eternal song affirms God’s timeless nature: “Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.” To sing this is to join the eternal present of heavenly worship.
3. It is a Hymn of Human Limitation and Divine Uniqueness (Verse 3)
This verse brings a sobering and humbling truth. Our fallen state creates a barrier: “Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see.” Sin has blinded us to the fullness of His radiance. Yet, this in no way diminishes the truth: “Only Thou art holy; There is none beside Thee.” His holiness is absolute, unique, and incomparable. It is “perfect in power, in love, and purity.” Even when we cannot see Him clearly, His nature remains the objective reality. Our worship is an act of faith in what is true, even when veiled.
4. It is a Hymn of Universal Praise and Culminating Doxology (Verse 4)
The hymn concludes by declaring that this praise is the destiny of all creation. “All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth and sky, and sea.” The cosmos itself is a testament to His holiness. The final lines resoundingly repeat the opening themes—His might, His mercy, and the mystery of the Trinity—sealing the hymn as a perfect circle of praise that begins and ends in the same glorious truth.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
Do you feel the weight of the ordinary, the petty, or the sinful? This hymn is your transport to the throne room.
Let the “Holy, Holy, Holy” break over your soul like waves, cleansing your perspective. Humble yourself with the saints and angels; cast your anxieties, achievements, and crowns before Him. Acknowledge that your sin-darkened eyes see only a glimpse, but by faith, adore the God who is Perfect in Power, Love, and Purity.
Make your day an extension of this hymn. Let its truth be the first thought of your morning and the last of your night. For you are called to join the everlasting song that echoes from the angels to the apostles, from the church on earth to the church in glory: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!
Leave a Reply