San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church

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73 Holy, Holy, Holy

The Hymn of Praise today is the well-known Holy, Holy, Holy, written by Reginald Heber, #73 in our hymnals. It paraphrases John's description of cherubim in Revelation 4:8-11—They rest not day and night, saying Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Which Was, and Is, and Is to Come. And when they sang, the four and twenty elders fell down before Him, and cast their crowns before the throne, crying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things!

The tune, NICEA, was composed specifically for these words by John Dykes in 1861. It is named after the ancient city of Nicea (now called Iznik) in Asia Minor, where a church council of 300 elders convened in 325 a.d. They had met to decide the controversy regarding the Trinity, and the nature of Christ. Their decision has held in all orthodox Christian churches to this day. The words of the last line of the hymn recall the words of their statement; and Dykes obviously chose the tune name accordingly.

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! Angels adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Thousands and ten thousands worship low before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt 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 power, 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!