In Chapel service this morning, we sang the Hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy”
As I was reviewing the PowerPoint Slides, I looked at the song sheet the band was singing off of.
They were singing the correct version as I verified online. I also know most of it by heart.
But to be sure, I checked Holy, Holy, Holy on Wikipededia.
Holy, Holy Holy
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 sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which 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, in 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, blessèd Trinity!
This is the problem. When I put the slides together, Thursday or Friday, I just googled a site and cut and pasted the words on put them on the slide. I remember thinking to myself–“I don’t remember anything about Angels in that hymn. But, maybe that’s some obscure verse.”
Wrong! This is what was written from Digital Hymnal where I downloaded the lyrics from.
Holy, holy, holy! Angels adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Thousands and ten thousands worship low before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Whoever wrote those lyrics changed the second verse. No big deal? Very big deal.
First of all this is one of the finest hymns of church history–don’t mess with it!
Second, their version screws up the theology of the hymn! This verse is not about Angels throwing their Golden Crowns–they don’t have any!! It is about Saints throwing theirs down. Big Difference.
And, oh by the way it is:
“Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,”
Not
“Thousands and ten thousands worship low before Thee,”
Another big difference. Angels fall–not worship low.
Splitting hairs? At first glance it is but it is defense against heresy. Somebody,tried to take this song and Angelfy it. This is a by product of contemporary, choose the theology of the day concept. It doesn’t work.
To make a great hymn heresy is detestable.
Stephanie says
I’m with you. Contemporary songs are good, but don’t mess with the old stand-bys!