Clearly, we are to seek God, but then what song shall we sing to Him? The answer comes throughout the hymn.

Saints and Crowns and a Glassy Sea

The inspiration for the second verse of Holy, Holy, Holy most likely came from the 6^th chapter of Isaiah. There is, within the first verses, a scene so magnificent we often find ourselves a bit uncomfortable with such prospect that this actually occurred to a fellow human being, no matter how revered he now is. Isaiah was about to receive his commission, and in doing so, he had a glorious vision.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.  (Isaiah 6: 1-4)

Heber’s inspiration would have continued with passages from the 4^th chapter of Revelation in which John, having been beckoned through a door in Heaven, received a vision comparable to Isaiah’s. There he saw a throne, surrounded by 24 thrones. On the center throne sat one who had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow encircled the throne and a sea of glass—clear as crystal, John writes—was before it. On the 24 thrones sat 24 elders, dressed in white and crowned in gold. Within this beautiful vision were four living creatures who cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” At this, the 24 elders fell before the one sitting upon the center throne, lay their crowns down and cried out their praise to Him, He who alone was worthy to sit upon the throne.

While we can read about these two moments in time, we must remember as we sing that these are scenes we shall surely witness ourselves, and—I believe—now become a party to when we raise our early morning songs of worship and praise to our King.

The Uniqueness, the Glory, and the Perfection of Jesus

Heber’s song goes on: Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee.

What, in your life, compares to God? To knowing Him? To having invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? As I researched various writings in the writing of this article, I found many online songs, poems, and psalms written to Jesus, to tell Him of His incomparable worth. Some were so beautifully penned and so heartfelt, tears stung my eyes and my heart leapt.