February 1, 2018 - - Isaiah 6:1-3 Holy! Holy! Holy!

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one has six wings: with two wing he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

And one cried to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!"

Isaiah 6:1-3 NKJV

Recently I have been studying the attributes of God (these are the characteristics which God has revealed that show Him to be the One, True God alone). He is holy. He is set apart by His purity. He cannot be sullied or touched by any sin. The exquisite weight of His brilliant holiness is such that even angels have to cover their eyes in His presence.

The prophet Isaiah has this vision of the Holy God. The vision takes place after one earthly king, Uzziah, has died. The point of this vision is that the Holy God rules and reigns forever, earthly kings and despots, rulers and leaders rise and fall, age and die but the Holy One of Heaven is LORD of Lords and KING of Kings and His reign will never end. An earthly monarch has a long robe, a sign of power, rule over conquered people and territories. The train of the LORD's robe fills the temple, He has power without measure.

Ever been at a ball game where fans are shouting out the name of their team? One side shouts and the other shouts louder the name of their beloved team. The angels in heaven shout to one another the Holiness of the LORD of Heaven's armies. It is joy. It is adoration. It is the knowledge of victory that prompts them to shout and sing.

The whole earth is filled with His glory. A heavy snowfall will bring cities to a standstill. Heavy rains will overwhelm an area's capacity to cope. Drought will ruin whole areas. We are puny. The LORD God is great, stronger, the Mightiest as He rules all the elements and He is the Keeper of the storehouses of rain and hail, drought and plenty. The day and night, the seasons, the sun, moon and stars--all of these proclaim the glory of God and all of these and so much more underline the fact that He is holy.

God is holy! Jesus is holy! The Spirit is holy! As you think of this, meditate on this, what God has revealed about Himself stirs the heart to wonder and to praise. It is not dull to praise Him, it is the work of angels, it is the joy of saints, it is to the cleansing of the heart and mind to praise the One Who alone is holy!

The prayer this morning is the beloved hymn printed below, which was written by Reginald Heber, in 1826. It is based on Isaiah 6:1-3 and Revelation 4. It is in the public domain. Hum or sing, shout and let your spirit soar in praise of Him Who is Holy!

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! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

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 pow’r, in love, and purity.

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!