Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord of Hosts – Seraphim and Nolene Prince

 

Isaiah encountered them. And then centuries later, an exile named John saw and heard some creatures like the ones Isaiah met (see the image here of seraphim that Isaiah described, as imagined by artists in a 14^th Century manuscript) in what seemed like a repeat of an apocalyptic vision. So, it was really these creatures who sang “Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord of Hosts” and caused Isaiah and John to feel awestruck, unworthy even to be in their presence. That’s what happens when mortals come that close to God or His representatives, as when Simon Peter had to acknowledge that he was in the presence of God Himself (Luke 5:8). Evidently, a 20^th Century songwriter, Nolene Prince, also wanted some of this same sensation, so she musically translated the words that Isaiah and John recorded into something we can sing today. There’s not much more that we can surmise from what the creatures said. We can take from the behavior of Isaiah and John how we too might react when we see Him or His heavenly beings someday. Trepidation, astonishment, reverence…His presence will be like nothing we have ever seen or heard before.  

 

We can be sure that Nolene was reading from Isaiah 6:1-5 and perhaps Revelation 4:8 also, and was struck by the imagery and even more so by what these beings had to say. God has other creatures that serve Him, like the cherubim (Genesis 3:24; and other places, especially in Ezekiel chapter 10) that, like the seraphim, inspire wonder when the human eye beholds them. But the seraphim actually speak and sing for the mortals they contact. All they had to say to each other was for Isaiah’s consumption, and also necessarily to make him aware of his poor state in God’s presence. But God didn’t want Isaiah to wilt. Instead, He had a mission for him. In Isaiah’s case, the seraphim helped usher in God’s message and commission for Isaiah – that he was to be a prophet to the people. So, the message the seraphim deliver can be a way to help assign someone a task. What John the beloved apostle saw and heard during his exile on Patmos was likewise a Divinely-inspired idea for a human to take up, something for John to broadcast (Revelation 4:8). The four living creatures that John saw had six wings each, so they were perhaps rather similar to the six-winged seraphim that sang for Isaiah. And, the song they sang was also very succinct and yet potent, with the ‘holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty’ phrase that is reserved for Him alone. John’s apparent takeaway was to recount this experience to other believers of his era, those who felt the weight of a Roman Caesar (Domitian) who decreed that his empire’s subjects call him Lord. ‘Hold on Caesar, let me tell you who is really Lord’, John said to gird the faith of his Christian brethren. ‘This Lord is not only Almighty, but also ‘who was, and is, and is to come’, so just keep listening to these four living creatures. Domitian can make believe what he wants, but we know the truth.’ In Isaiah’s experience, the seraphim followed up the introduction of the holy Lord, by saying ‘the whole earth is full of His glory’. What they said was literally an earthshaking revelation (Is. 6:4). He can rock earthly kings (like Caesar) through a Christian movement, while also physically shaking another’s foundations.

 

This ‘Lord of Hosts’ is not to be ignored. He evidently has beings that work for Him, communicating with humans who carry His messages to others. The things they say about Him aren’t very complicated. He’s holy, a declaration that’s important enough to say three times for effect. And, He shakes things up and is eternally existing. In short, He’s the one in control, then, now, and forever. If He were evil, we’d all be in trouble. But those who introduce Him say He’s holy. Webster’s says that means He’s exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness. Don’t believe Webster? But why would Webster say this? Have you met this God yet? People here on earth may not represent Him and His holiness perfectly at all times, as Webster’s describes holiness. And yet, that’s why we’re humans, and He’s God, and why each of us needs Him. We’re aiming to be with Him who will perfect us one day.            

 

Read about the four living creatures and the Tetramorph here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetramorph  or seraphim here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraph

 

See more information on the image here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seraphim_-_Petites_Heures_de_Jean_de_Berry.jpg ... This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. {{PD-1996}} – public domain in its source country on January 1, 1996 and in the United States. …found inside this document -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraph

The Lion and the Lamb -- Brenton Brown, Brian Johnson, Leeland Mooring

 

They might have felt like they were in the same room with Isaiah, or maybe John. It began with Leeland Mooring’s experience at a church in California, and then his reflection later on that moment at a retreat with Brenton Brown and Brian Johnson, as the three of them were trying to capture and hold some mental imagery deep inside themselves. It was a scene that none of us today have certainly ever observed, when “The Lion and the Lamb” have occupied the same space in a peaceful way. (See the reproduction of the artwork A Little Child Shall Lead Them, an 1896 work by William Strutt, which includes the peaceful association of two animals, a lion and a lamb, in the resurrected world of other peaceful animals envisioned by the prophet Isaiah [11:6; 65:25].) That’s the kind of thing that can happen when people try to put themselves in the shoes of characters who’ve had stunning visions of what our Creator plans to do one day. The lion and the lamb will also play a powerful role in eternity. Who but the one at God’s right hand is capable of occupying two seemingly opposite positions, of both peace and power?

 

Leeland recalled how the worship with a California church was focused on finding God in His space during a three-day stay there around 2015. The crowd was really seeking Him, through songs with lots of words like ‘holy’ and ‘worthy’ in them, both characteristics of Him. And so, that made the chorus emerge from inside Leeland, at the same time that his brother was praying with people during that time. What Leeland expressed was that God, the Lion of Judah cannot be stopped in His power as the Almighty; and yet, He’s also the Lamb who allowed Himself to be sacrificed. Was the imagery of Isaiah (chapters 11 and 65) and also what John saw in his Revelation – especially about the Lamb, who played such a crucial role in John’s vision -- part of what ultimately inspired the three songwriters? Leeland remembers discussing the duality of Jesus with his brother, and also recalling that the beloved Apostle John was reassured by this same God to not be afraid  (Revelation 1:17). A lamb and a lion who has the gentleness and also the power and authority, and one who will be coming on the clouds (v.1 of song) – so does it seem like it will be difficult, if not impossible to not be awed by Him! That’s what Leeland, Brenton, and Brian are inviting us to imagine, even as we go about the daily hum-drum of earthly life. We have ‘chain(s)’ and ‘broken hearts’ (v.1) and ‘battles’ (chorus), but these pale and fall away; they are immaterial when we acknowledge Him and ‘open the gates’ for the ‘King of kings’ who came to free we who would otherwise remain ‘captives’ (v.2).

 

It seems that when we make a conscious effort to get in the same mindset as Isaiah and John -- as Leeland, Brenton, and Brian have done – that there’s many more phrases and whole choruses that center on God and what He has done and will do. That comes through clearly in ‘The Lion and the Lamb’ – the scenes pictured lyrically show us Him repeatedly. ‘Who can stop the Lord Almighty?’ is the question that the three songwriters ask over and over. A God who can be slain, and yet reign with unchallenged power, is a Lord who can take care of anything in between those two extremes that threaten me. Death, for us humans at least, is the ultimate penalty, for nothing worse can befall the mortal. At the other end of the spectrum, a being who has been invested with all authority – or has attempted to attain that status -- in our human experience has been someone to dread, a tyrannical ruler. There have been many Caesars, and other emperors or dictators closer to our own century, like Napoleon, Stalin, and Hitler. We can rejoice that death and tyranny are overthrown by the one who redefines our existence and our outlook. The Lamb and Lion of Judah is one and the same God, who overthrows all of our dread.     

 

Read about/watch the story of the song shared here: 'Lion And The Lamb' Brenton Brown …also shared here: Lion and the Lamb by Leeland - Songfacts

 

See here for some brief information on the song: The Lion and the Lamb (song) - Wikipedia

 

See information on the image-graphic here: File:William Strutt - A little child shall lead them.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (found inside the link here: The lamb and lion - Wikipedia   ) This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.

King of Kings -- Brooke and Scott Ligertwood, Jason Ingram

 

These three were in Nashville (see the map of Tennessee and highlight of Davidson County where Nashville resides) to collaborate and think about the “King of Kings”, though their thoughts began separately. The Ligertwoods, Scott and Brooke, had some ideas about how to tell the story of scripture, and then when they heard Jason Ingram’s melody as the three got together later, that’s when things really flowed. That’s the short version. How would one person or a group of three people really expect to share completely the full spectrum of God-in-the-flesh’s story, without leaving out something? The song might never end! That was perhaps the conclusion they too reached, but still the effort to direct the attention of hearers toward the spiritual foundation upon which believers stand was worth the time they spent. It was not a collection of ‘feelings’, but instead truths that underpin beliefs that spurred Scott, Brooke, and Jason forward.    

 

One doesn’t have to read too far in one’s bible to really find inspiration for what the Ligertwoods and Jason Ingram would write in 2018/2019. Apparently, two of the scriptures that motivated them were about how Jesus is to be exalted – Revelation 19:16 and Philippians 2:9-11. A great place to begin, as it turned out, but the Ligertwoods also had thoughts about packing even more scriptures into verses, as part of an objective to explore and tell the story of the gospel. The three of them thought about Genesis clear through to Revelation, and were ‘unpacking’ quite a bit as they talked about what in scripture creates belief. Jason’s melody and a bridge section of the song stuck immediately, and as they sorted through the Word, Brooke’s mind and spontaneity kicked in with lots more for the verses. The wanted to sing scripture and use the song as an opportunity to teach why Christians can believe, to even impart some theological truths. Some that eventually emerged (after about a year of working and re-working notes and words) were some things that they found exciting, things that somehow often get glossed over. That Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matt. 5:17); that Mary’s virgin pregnancy with the God-Son was not a surprise, but another foretold prophecy (see Isaiah 7:4; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:21-23); that many dead arose when Jesus died (see Matt. 27:50-53); and that the church was born through the work of the Holy Spirit enabling men in a miraculous way (Acts 2) were all energizing to these three 21^st Century songwriters. They firmly believed that this same Spirit is active today, and that we who believe are part of this ongoing story. It’s a song that should never be completed, if you think of yourself as an heir of Christ, as someone who wants to connect yourself to Him and what He means to human beings.

 

The words that Scott, Brooke, and Jason wrote are meant to draw you and me in. Now this gospel truth of old Shall not kneel, shall not faint…If you think history, including bigger-than-life heroes of heart-stirring episodes – maybe an Abraham Lincoln-like person – is what motivates you onward, then what about the one upon whom our calendar (at least the Gregorian one) pivots? He is the Truth, the One who rose so that you and I need not kneel or faint as we think about our graves. Death is certain, so it seems to make sense to connect myself with Him toward whom so much evidence points as the Conqueror of the grave. Don’t believe because it gives you solace, a crutch to lean upon and salve your fear of life’s end. Believe because there’s too much history – irrefutable and enduring, some 20 centuries after the facts -- for you and me to ignore this life, this King of Kings. Be like Lee Strobel (author of the The Case for Christ and so many other books that investigate the credibility of Christianity) and Josh McDowell (author of More Than a Carpenter, and like Strobel, so many other books to help us see Christ’s truth-bearing nature), both of whom started their journeys as skeptics, intending to disprove Christ, and instead found His truth the most compelling, and worthy of belief. Read some, investigate, and see what takes more faith – to believe or disregard it. As Brooke has said, the gospel story is not a ‘relic’, but something that ‘demands’ our attention. See if you agree that it’s ‘reality’, as she and so many others have said. Or, are  you too wedded to mere feelings, or to things in this world that will decay?      

 

 

Hear/see the song story here: (begin at 4:15 thru 9:20, and 12:20 thru 12:33) Behind The Song: Hillsong Worship Shares The Heart Behind Their Song “King Of Kings” | Freeccm.com

 

Read some brief information about the song here: King of Kings (Hillsong song) - Wikipedia

 

See information on the map-image of Davidson County (where Nashville is) here, including the public domain status of the graphic: File:Map of Tennessee highlighting Davidson County.svg - Wikimedia Commons . The following statement is associated with the graphic re: its public domain status: I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.