The blessings of a thrice-holy God
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
How do you feel when something is repeated twice? How about when it is repeated three times?
Do you get annoyed that someone might think you aren’t listening or don’t understand? Do you give the person the benefit of the doubt that they might be trying to emphasize something or drive home an important point?
Think of things that last way (driving home an important point) as you read our Bible verse for this week. This weekend, the Christian Church focuses on the fact that our God is one God who reveals himself in three persons – Father, Son & Holy Spirit. We speak of that as the Trinity or the Triune God. To some people this concept is confusing, overwhelming or too difficult to comprehend.
Our Triune God does not ask us to try to understand how one God can be three persons. He shares that concept and teaching with us for our reassurance and comfort. Think of it this way – as awesome as it is to know and have the comfort that our Almighty God is with us and taking care of us both here on earth and into eternity. How much more reassuring is it to know that each member of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit is carrying out their special work on our behalf and for our good!
Look at the two parts of our verse for this week.
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty”. These words, with “holy” repeated three times, are a song of praise to our Triune God for being perfect in all he is and does for us, in contrast to our utter sinfulness. While it might scare us or embarrass us when we look at God’s perfection in contrast to our sinfulness, these words are meant to reassure us of the truth which is repeated (in a good way) again and again through the Bible “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thank God that his perfection and Jesus’ payment for our sins removes the awful stains of our sin and makes us perfect and holy before God.
“The whole earth is full of his glory” Confident in the assurance that our sins are forgiven, our Triune God also gives us the confidence that he is with us wherever we go and wherever those who are nearest and dearest to us are also in God’s care and sight every second of our lives. As we hear the news of what is constantly happening around the world we might question whether the earth is truly full of God’s glory. Shootings, sickening actions and unrest all over the world fill us with fear and disbelief. Our Triune God wants us to know that while sin still wreaks havoc until Jesus comes again, God uses even the trouble and evil which happens in our world for his purpose and our good.
Yes, we may not be able to understand or comprehend the whole idea of the Trinity. But as you hear the holiness of God repeated three times let it give you confidence and peace!