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"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!" | The Holy Trinity
ZACHARY'S NOTES:
Stanza 1 // The first stanza names the God we worship - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - blessed Trinity. For this reason, this hymn is most appropriately used as a Entrance/Processional Hymn on this festival day. More than a musical attempt to praise God, it is a quotation from the sixth chapter of Isaiah. When in God’s presence, our reaction is first terror and fear - God is holy and we are not! Because we know God as Father, Son, and Spirit, we know God is not only “mighty” and “holy” but also “merciful.” In this mercy, we not only know, but share God’s perfection in Christ.
Stanza 2 // The first half of this stanza can sound like worship is removed from Sunday morning, and belongs to saints and angels in heaven. But, this stanza also recalls the “cherubim and seraphim” to whose song we are joined each week in the liturgy of Holy Communion. Just as the saints who have gone before us rest in Christ sing around the throne, so this good news is for all people - those who have been, surround us today, and will follow us in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Stanza 3 // This stanza speaks to the proper fear of the Lord we experience as sinful people. Not only is God holy and perfect, but apart from Christ, His glory is set apart from our knowledge. The “human eye” and our sin leaves us separated from God. This is why the promise we receive in baptism - in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is celebrated this day. Christ is not giving us a divine to-do list - baptize and teach - but again giving us the promise of life we have in Christ.
Stanza 4 // The final stanza largely repeats the text of the first stanza. The additional text says “all thy works shall praise thy name.” Sometimes, we hear these words as a commentary on creation, and the hymn - “earth, sky, and sea” - even suggests this. Rather than confining God to creation, the stanza also says God’s work is the reason for our praise. Where God is at work - in the waters of baptism and the Word - we have reason to praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
SUGGESTIONS:
- ELW 413 - Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! - ɴɪᴄᴀᴇᴀ
- ELW 410 - All Glory Be to God on High - ᴀʟʟᴇɪɴ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ɪɴ ᴅᴇʀ ʜöʜ
- ELW 414 - Holy God, We Praise Your Name - ɢʀᴏꜱꜱᴇʀ ɢᴏᴛᴛ
- ELW 579 - Lord, You Give the Commission - ᴀʙʙᴏᴛ’ꜱ ʟᴇɪɢʜ
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By Luther House of Study
5
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ZACHARY'S NOTES:
Stanza 1 // The first stanza names the God we worship - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - blessed Trinity. For this reason, this hymn is most appropriately used as a Entrance/Processional Hymn on this festival day. More than a musical attempt to praise God, it is a quotation from the sixth chapter of Isaiah. When in God’s presence, our reaction is first terror and fear - God is holy and we are not! Because we know God as Father, Son, and Spirit, we know God is not only “mighty” and “holy” but also “merciful.” In this mercy, we not only know, but share God’s perfection in Christ.
Stanza 2 // The first half of this stanza can sound like worship is removed from Sunday morning, and belongs to saints and angels in heaven. But, this stanza also recalls the “cherubim and seraphim” to whose song we are joined each week in the liturgy of Holy Communion. Just as the saints who have gone before us rest in Christ sing around the throne, so this good news is for all people - those who have been, surround us today, and will follow us in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Stanza 3 // This stanza speaks to the proper fear of the Lord we experience as sinful people. Not only is God holy and perfect, but apart from Christ, His glory is set apart from our knowledge. The “human eye” and our sin leaves us separated from God. This is why the promise we receive in baptism - in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is celebrated this day. Christ is not giving us a divine to-do list - baptize and teach - but again giving us the promise of life we have in Christ.
Stanza 4 // The final stanza largely repeats the text of the first stanza. The additional text says “all thy works shall praise thy name.” Sometimes, we hear these words as a commentary on creation, and the hymn - “earth, sky, and sea” - even suggests this. Rather than confining God to creation, the stanza also says God’s work is the reason for our praise. Where God is at work - in the waters of baptism and the Word - we have reason to praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
SUGGESTIONS:
- ELW 413 - Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! - ɴɪᴄᴀᴇᴀ
- ELW 410 - All Glory Be to God on High - ᴀʟʟᴇɪɴ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ɪɴ ᴅᴇʀ ʜöʜ
- ELW 414 - Holy God, We Praise Your Name - ɢʀᴏꜱꜱᴇʀ ɢᴏᴛᴛ
- ELW 579 - Lord, You Give the Commission - ᴀʙʙᴏᴛ’ꜱ ʟᴇɪɢʜ