holy, holy, holy

A few days ago, I came across this quotation from a book by R.C. Sproul ("The Holiness of God") --

Only once in sacred Scripture is an attribute of God elevated to the third degree. Only once is a characteristic of God mentioned three times in succession. The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love; or mercy, mercy, mercy; or wrath, wrath, wrath; or justice, justice, justice. It does say that he is holy, holy, holy, and that the whole earth is full of His glory.

And then in the car the other day, a song came on over the radio which I haven't heard for many, many years ... but listening now, I have a whole new appreciation for the lyrics. Here's how the songwriters describe it:

This song captures the moment of looking up into Heaven, peeling back the curtain of eternity so we can peek in. If you keep your eyes on the Dow Jones or nuclear weapons in North Korea, you’ll always be nervous. Look to the awesomeness of God instead.

(Phillips, Craig & Dean @ http://www.myspace.com/phillipscraiganddean)

I always gain a better perspective on things when I really take time to think about the holiness of God. It enlarges Him to a being who is actually worthy of ALL our worship, ALL our lives, ALL our hearts. I used to imagine that saying "holy, holy, holy" in heaven all the time would be boring. But, in my saner moments, I know now that there's nothing I'd look forward to more.




What is the right response to this awesomeness, even in our lives here and now?

The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.
- Isaiah (Isaiah 8:13)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- Solomon (Proverbs 1:7)

Now therefore fear the LORD
and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.
Put away the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,
and serve the LORD.
- Joshua (Joshua 24:14)

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
- David (Psalm 29:2)