Holy, Holy, Holy, ELW 413 and LBW 165
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!
Devotion
I remember singing this hymn at Luther Seminary not long ago. The Chapel of the Incarnation was packed full, and as the verses went on the whole room seemed to swell with the sound of voices lifted high in rich harmony. On one of the verses, the organist stopped playing. The result was a pure, deep, sweet sound that took my breath away. I was torn between wanting to simply stand and listen, and to join my own alto to the faithful chorus.
This hymn paints a picture of what life in heaven will be like: a place of immense beauty, filled with the sound of the angels as day and night they sing praise to God. If you sing it today, imagine that you are one of those angels. Lift your voice high and clear … and if you can, sing in four-part harmony. It’ll be a taste of heaven here on earth.
Prayer
Father, Son, Spirit: We lift our voices in praise and offer to you all glory and power and honor. You are perfect in love and purity; you are merciful and mighty. Blessed be your name forever and ever! Amen.