In this series of posts, we have been considering the important differences between most of modern "praise and worship" music and classic hymns; we have also considered the biblical guidelines for what makes a Christian song of any generation proper worship. Last time we compared the classic hymn "How Firm a Foundation" with the modern worship song "Build My Life." Today, let's compare two songs that address God's holiness.
The Makings of Good Worship Music
I recognize how sensitive this topic can be, so let's review the criteria that we're using to evaluate songs. A thoughtful and biblical stance needs to examine each song on its own merits. We need to ask ourselves the question(s) “What am I looking at? What am I listening to? What am I singing?” Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18-20 provided the measuring rod. Ideally, we want music that:
holds a high view of God's word
teaches, admonishes, and gives thanks
keeps the Lord as the sole recipient and beneficiary of the music (any blessing we receive is just God’s grace poured out for our obedience in song)
In addition to the content and presentation of the song, we should also recognize that not all songs need to be the same. Last time we saw how Colossians 3:16 creates a hierarchy of music for us, going from most biblical to most personal: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
With that fresh on our minds, today's comparison is going to focus on how the two selected songs directly reflect Scripture.
A Classic Hymn: "Holy Holy Holy" Lyrics
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 pow’r, 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, blessed Trinity!
Cross-References in the Lyrics of "Holy Holy Holy"
Holy Holy Holy
Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8
Lord God Almighty
Revelation 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7, 19:15, 21:22
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Psalm 5:3, 55:17, 59:16, 92:2
Merciful and Mighty
Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 3:24, 4:31, 7:21, Joshua 4:24, Nehemiah 9:17 and 9:31-32, Psalm 50:1, 103:8, 116:5, Isaiah 9:6, 10:21, Jeremiah 32:18, I Peter 5:6
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity
Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19
All the saints adore Thee
I Corinthians 1:2 and 14:33, Ephesians 1:1, II Thessalonians 1:10
Casting down their golden crowns
Revelation 4:10
Around the glassy sea
Revelation 4:6, 15:2
Cherubim and seraphim
Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:18, I Samuel 4:4, Isaiah 6:2-6, 37:16, Ezekiel 10:1-28, 11:22, 41:18-25, Hebrews 9:5
Falling down before Thee
Revelation 4:10, I Corinthians 14:25
Which art, and wert, and evermore shall be
Revelation 4:8
The darkness hide Thee
Exodus 20:21, Deuteronomy 5:22-23, Psalm 18:11, 97:2
The eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Exodus 33:20
Only Thou art holy
Revelation 15:4
There is none beside Thee
Deuteronomy 4:35, I Samuel 2:2, II Samuel 7:22, I Chronicles 17:20, Isaiah 45:5-6, 45:21, 47:8-10
Perfect in love, in power, and purity
Deuteronomy 32:4, II Samuel 22:31, I John 4:16, Hebrews 2:10, 5:9
All Thy works shall praise They name
Luke 19:40, Habakkuk 3:3
In earth, and sky, and sea
Psalm 69:34
A Contemporary Praise and Worship Song: "Holy Ground" Lyrics
Verse 1 Here as we wait Seek Your face Come and make Your throne upon our praise Here in this place Have Your way The moment that we see You, we are changed
Chorus Show us Your glory Show us Your glory In wonder and surrender we fall down
Show us Your glory Show us Your glory Let every burning heart be holy ground
Verse 2 Here, not by power Not by might But only by the cross we come alive Here, we're undone Overcome By heaven's love revealed before our eyes
Bridge Chains fall Fear bow Here, now Jesus, you change everything Lives healed Hope found Here, now Jesus, you change everything
Cross-References in the Lyrics of "Holy Ground"
Here as we wait
Psalm 27:14, etc
Seek Your face
I Chronicles 16:11, etc
Come and make Your throne upon our praise
Psalms 93:2 (His throne is built on our praise?)
The moment that we see You, we are changed
II Cor 3:18
Show us Your glory
Exodus 33:18
In wonder and surrender we fall down
Revelation 4:10, I Corinthians 14:25
Let every burning heart be holy ground
Exodus 3:5, Acts 7:33, Luke 24:32 (the heart is holy ground?)
Here, not by power
Zechariah 4:6
But only by the cross we come alive
I Cor 1:18 (shouldn't the lyric reference the blood of Christ?)
Here, we're undone
Isaiah 6:5 (possibly the cross-reference the composer had in mind?)
Overcome
Song 6:5, Jeremiah 23:9 (possibly the cross-references the composer had in mind?)
By heaven's love revealed before our eyes
Titus 3:4, I John 4:10
Chains fall
Acts 12:7
Fear bow
Genesis 42:18, Micah 6:6, Romans 14:11
Lives healed
Matthew 4:24
Hope found
Ephesians 1:18
Comparative Observations
There are a minimum of 65 direct references to Scripture reflected in the words and phrases of "Holy, Holy Holy" (except for minor conjunctions, prepositions, etc that are used for grammatical purposes). In comparison, the contemporary song "Holy Ground" has at least 23 references, but they are often vague (meaning it was more difficult to find exact Scripture references) and sometimes the application of the verse is questionable (as noted above). The difference in the number of references becomes all the more shocking when we consider that "Holy Ground" has 106 words, whereas "Holy Holy Holy" has 127 words - nearly the same number of words with almost three times the number of Scriptural references! Furthermore, every single line of "Holy Holy Holy" contains Scriptural references. In contrast, of the 26 lines in "Holy Ground," only 16 contain Scriptural references.
The Sum of the Matter
Personally, I regard “Holy Holy Holy” as the prince of hymns because 1) it is entirely Scriptural, 2) it is doctrinally accurate, and 3) it has very little to do with me - it is all about Him! It was easy to find the Scriptural references in the hymn; it was more challenging in the contemporary song.
If you enjoy "Holy Ground" or other contemporary songs - if you can honestly and sincerely and Scripturally praise God with them - then keep them. I have no intention to tear them out of anyone's hands, or condemn those who sing them. The point here is to demonstrate why certain songs have a different effect from others. There is a clear difference between the classic hymns and most of the contemporary "praise and worship."
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