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! 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 Oh God in three persons Blessed Trinity!
As I sang out an old familiar hymn, my heart filled with worship, and tears filled my eyes. I breathed in deeply the fragrance of God‘s presence and let the voices of my children and husband carry my heart into the next verse. I was taken back to that little classroom at Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MS, standing at the piano with Mrs. Crockett and Mrs. Barton as I belted out that same proclamation of God’s holiness with pride. I had memorized my first hymn – number 1 in the hymnal- Holy, Holy, Holy! I must’ve been about nine…pretty close in age to my youngest child at this time. I looked over as he sang along, following the lyrics on the screen.
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
Like any good Baptist girl, I had committed the first, second, and last stanzas to heart and had carried them with me over the years. I often unearthed the sentimental, weighty words when I longed to worship. I would sing those instinctive lines and praise merciful, mighty Lord God Almighty, God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.
Upon the third stanza, my eyes bounced along with the less familiar words, and my heart considered how the darkness can sometimes hide Thee… how my sinful view does not always perceive His glory.
“Only Thou art holy. There is none beside Thee. Perfect in power, in love and purity.”
This world is full of darkness. My sinful eyes can become overwhelmed by it. People are hurting and broken. People spew hatred and encourage quarreling. Strong opinions about politics and policies divide and shape and destroy relationships. But God’s glory is among it all. The One who was and is and evermore shall be; He is perfect in power, in love and purity. He is present.
My soul was refreshed as I took in this truth. There is hurt and sadness and brokenness in this world, but I pray that God continues to use me among all His works to praise His name in earth and sky and sea. I pray God’s mercy and might will be seen and recognized by the eye of us-sinful humanity. May we reflect His love and let the song of our lives rise to Him. May we live boldly and differently and let every ounce of our being allow others to experience His glory in the midst of the darkness.
