Holy, Holy, Holy

Psalm 99:1-5

1The LORD is king!

Let the nations tremble!

He sits on his throne between the cherubim.

Let the whole earth quake!

2The LORD sits in majesty in Jerusalem,

supreme above all the nations.

3Let them praise your great and awesome name.

Your name is holy!

4Mighty king, lover of justice,

you have established fairness.

You have acted with justice

and righteousness throughout Israel.

5Exalt the LORD our God!

Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!

After decades of religious corruption, King Uzziah worked hard to bring the nation of Judah back to the Lord. But toward the end of Uzziah’s long and prosperous reign, he became proud and burned incense himself on the altar in the Temple, a job reserved for the priests. As punishment, Uzziah contracted leprosy, which forced him to live in isolation the rest of his life. It was a sad last chapter to a great career.

In the year King Uzziah died, a young man named Isaiah saw a vision. God was on a lofty throne, with the train of his robe spilling over the throne and filling the Temple. The whole place was filled with smoke, probably incense, and seraphim surrounded him singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. The whole earth is filled with his glory!” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

Isaiah immediately knew he was out of place. If a great king like Uzziah was punished for burning incense, what would happen to him? He loudly confessed his unworthiness. But one of the seraphim picked up a burning coal from the altar with a pair of tongs, touched Isaiah’s lips with it, and said, “Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven” (verse 7).

Throughout his prophetic ministry, Isaiah understood the message of Psalm 99—that God is holy, frighteningly holy. Such a vision of the holy, holy, holy Lord keeps us bowing low before his feet.

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!

GERALD S. HENDERSON

Bible Networking

This psalm uses the word holy three times (verses 3, 5, and 9). For other places in Scripture where this word appears three times, see Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8.

Notable Quotable

“The more we abase ourselves before God, the more we exalt Him.”

F. B. MEYER