22.5 Worship: Holy Holy Holy

Table of Contents

The Text

Isaiah 6:1–7 (CSB)
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple.

2 Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.

4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies.

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs.

7 He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.

The Chapter

The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.

The Confession

How do we gather, as a people, to worship our sweet God? What can and should we do? What is forbidden and allowed?

The reading of the Scriptures

1 Timothy 4:13 (CSB) Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.

We turn to the Scriptures, the "mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4) and hear from God on how we should praise his holy name.

But notice the confession and the Scriptures say. Nowhere in Scripture is the private reading of Scriptures trumps the public reading of Scriptures. The scriptures must be read aloud for this is the will of God because for the majority of the those in the Bible did not know how to read.

preaching, and hearing the Word of God

2 Timothy 4:2 (CSB) Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

Luke 8:18 (CSB) Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

But we don't have the Scriptures read but it is to preached--exhorted, proclaimed, and heralded! We all know the difference between preached and taught. Just like in private reading of the Scriptures, there is a time and place for the teaching of the word. But the preaching of the word is paramount, crucial, and foremost--because it is a clear command of God.

And to that end, as the saints of God, we are sit and listen and ponder and dwell and meditate and pontificate and pray that the Spirit will use the sharp two-edged Sword and let it cut us up to piece so that the Spirit can rebuild us into a new creation in Christ.

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord

Colossians 3:16 (CSB) Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Ephesians 5:19 (CSB) speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,

and with corporate worship, together, in real life--something you cannot do no matter how much YouTube you watch--sing unto God.

We don't sing to God because God needs our songs--he is not served by human hands. But rather, our singing to God benefits and lifts up one another.

as also the administration of baptism

Matthew 28:19–20 (CSB) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

To the ordained who are charge to shepherd the flock of God, we are commissioned by the Christ to be baptized in the name of the Triune God--the proclaim what has happened to wicked sinners saved by grace. Namely, our sins have been buried with the sinless Christ. And though, Christ was raised from the grave, our wickedness stayed buried because they are the opposite of the righteousness of Christ.

and the Lord's supper

1 Corinthians 11:26 (CSB) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The bread and the wine--the body and the blood of Christ--is to be administered "as often we do" until the Christ comes back.

TODO:

are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings

Esther 4:16 (CSB) “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”

Joel 2:12 (CSB) Even now— this is the LORD’s declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

In these corporate worship, we are to never make much of us. For, who are we--not men but worms. And God be so kind to transformed us from children of Satan to his adopted children forever.

and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner

There is a slowness, ordinary-ness, solumn-ness, thankful way in worshipping our God in heaven.

Many will get tired of this. But worship unto God is not to entertain but to fixed our eyes upon the risen Christ--who has saved us, continually saving us and will save us from our sins.

We worship the Lamb of Glory in this right way because he was the Worthy Lamb Who Was Slain for us.

Exodus 15:1–19 (CSB) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD. They said: I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted; he has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. He threw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea; the elite of his officers were drowned in the Red Sea. The floods covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. LORD, your right hand is glorious in power. LORD, your right hand shattered the enemy. You overthrew your adversaries by your great majesty. You unleashed your burning wrath; it consumed them like stubble. The water heaped up at the blast from your nostrils; the currents stood firm like a dam. The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said: “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil. My desire will be gratified at their expense. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.” But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. LORD, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? You stretched out your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength. When the peoples hear, they will shudder; anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan will panic; terror and dread will fall on them. They will be as still as a stone because of your powerful arm until your people pass by, LORD, until the people whom you purchased pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your possession; LORD, you have prepared the place for your dwelling; Lord, your hands have established the sanctuary. The LORD will reign forever and ever! When Pharaoh’s horses with his chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the water of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Psalm 107 (CSB)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD proclaim that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe

3 and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south.

4 Some wandered in the desolate wilderness, finding no way to a city where they could live.

5 They were hungry and thirsty; their spirits failed within them.

6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; he rescued them from their distress.

7 He led them by the right path to go to a city where they could live.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.

9 For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.

10 Others sat in darkness and gloom— prisoners in cruel chains—

11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12 He broke their spirits with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart.

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.

16 For he has broken down the bronze gates and cut through the iron bars.

17 Fools suffered affliction because of their rebellious ways and their iniquities.

18 They loathed all food and came near the gates of death.

19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; he saved them from their distress.

20 He sent his word and healed them; he rescued them from their traps.

21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.

22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy.

23 Others went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast water.

24 They saw the LORD’s works, his wondrous works in the deep.

25 He spoke and raised a stormy wind that stirred up the waves of the sea.

26 Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish,

27 they reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and all their skill was useless.

28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.

29 He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then he guided them to the harbor they longed for.

31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.

32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into desert, springs into thirsty ground,

34 and fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.

35 He turns a desert into a pool, dry land into springs.

36 He causes the hungry to settle there, and they establish a city where they can live.

37 They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest.

38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; he does not let their livestock decrease.

39 When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,

40 he pours contempt on nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

41 But he lifts the needy out of their suffering and makes their families multiply like flocks.

42 The upright see it and rejoice, and all injustice shuts its mouth.

43 Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the LORD’s acts of faithful love.

The Praise

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 see
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Who 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, 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!

Reginald Heber. Holy Holy Holy. 1826.