Worship
Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and back: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing,
“Holy, holy, holy,
the Lord God the Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.”
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4:6-11
STORY
Reginald Heber was born in Cheshire, England in 1783. Following his ordination in the Anglican Church, he served sixteen years in an obscure parish in the little village of Hodnet in western England. In 1823 he was sent to India to serve as the Bishop of Calcutta. This responsibility included India, as well as the Island of Ceylon and all of Australia. The pressure of this work along with the humid climate caused him serious health problems. Three years after his appointment as bishop, on Sunday, April 3, 1826, after preaching to a large outdoor audience on the evils of the caste system, he suffered sun-stroke and suddenly died at the age of forty-three.
During his life Heber wrote a number of hymns. He was the first person to compile a hymnal cataloging all the hymns according to the church’s liturgical calendar. The hymn Holy, Holy, Holy was written for Trinity Sunday, which occurs eight weeks after Easter. He wrote the hymn while he was the pastor at Hodnet. The hymn is based on the words of Revelation 4:8. Heber used the symbolism of three repeatedly throughout his hymn: God is “holy, merciful and mighty,” God is “perfect in power, in love and purity,” God is worshiped by “saints, cherubim, and seraphim,” and God is praised “in earth and sky and sea.”
The hymn reads:
Stanza 1
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!
Stanza 2
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim, falling down before Thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Stanza 3
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.
Stanza 4
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!
Points to Ponder
> How do you worship God in your daily devotions?
o For me: Like so many Christians, I begin each day in meditation. I read the Bible, I am inspired by reading the daily devotional that is printed in the Upper Room, and of course there is my reflective prayer list. For Christians, this daily morning meditation can be done in a special room in one’s home, or in the woods, or sitting at the beach. This should be complimented by attending Sunday morning worship.
> How do you worship God in your daily living?
o For me: I believe that every moment of daily living should be an expression of worship as each moment of each and every day should glorify God.
> In worship do you feel like you join with all creation in worshipping God?
o For me: I only feel this way if I am participating in a meaningful group worship experience. Otherwise, even if I am in a group, I feel like a singular participant.
Please share other Points to Ponder so I can update my list
Please share your thoughts with me – if you desire I will publish them for others to read anonymously or first name only or your entire name as you choose