“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Of all the attributes of God, only one is raised to the third power. Not love, love, love. Not mercy, mercy, mercy. Not even wrath, wrath, wrath. But “Holy, holy, holy.”
This is the most iconic three-peat in all of Scripture—and it happens not once, but twice. Once in the throne room vision of Isaiah, and again in the heavenly throne room in Revelation. Across time, covenant, and even creation itself, one word is echoed again and again: holy.
Repetitious perfection is more than a stylistic flourish—it’s a window into the divine. It’s how heaven speaks when words fall short. When all of God’s glory must be summed up in one superlative, it’s this: He is holy.
The Core of God’s Character
To say God is holy means He is set apart, utterly distinct, and absolutely pure. Holiness is not one trait of God among many—it is the sum of them all, raised to infinite perfection. It means:
- He is morally flawless.
- He is majestic beyond measure.
- He is unlike anything or anyone else in existence.
R.C. Sproul once said, “When the Bible wants to emphasize something, it doesn’t use bold or underline—it repeats. And nothing is repeated like God’s holiness.”
The triple repetition means **ultimate perfection**, **supreme emphasis**, and **unquestionable authority**.
Isaiah 6 – Overwhelmed by Holiness
In Isaiah’s vision, he sees the Lord “high and lifted up,” and the seraphim crying out, “Holy, holy, holy.” The building shakes. Smoke fills the temple. The prophet is undone.
Why? Because holiness reveals not only who God is—but who we are not.
“Woe is me! I am lost… for my eyes have seen the King.” (Isaiah 6:5)
Application: You don’t truly encounter God until you’ve encountered His holiness. And once you have, pride dies, repentance rises, and worship deepens.
The Holiness of God in Eternity
In the final book of the Bible, we’re taken into the heavenly throne room where the four living creatures never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Heaven is not bored. Heaven is captivated. The glory of God is so infinite that even eternity cannot exhaust its praise.
Repetition in heaven is worship in fullness.
Have We Forgotten God’s Holiness?
In an age obsessed with relevance and accessibility, have we lost the wonder of His holiness? The God we serve is not just friendly—He is fearsome in righteousness. Not just near—He is other.
We need the church to say it again. And again. And again:
He is holy.
He is holy.
He is holy.
Lesson: True worship doesn’t begin with music or melody. It begins with reverence for God’s majesty. Holiness humbles us, corrects us, and lifts us to glory.
How to Respond to Repetitious Perfection
- Fall before Him. Humble yourself before the holy God who dwells in unapproachable light.
- Worship Him with reverence. Let your words, actions, and heart reflect the weight of His presence.
- Be holy as He is holy. Holiness is not optional for the believer—it’s our calling (1 Peter 1:16).
Say It Again
He is not just good. Not just powerful. Not just wise. He is holy. And the only right response is to join the chorus of heaven and let it ring again and again:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.”
When we see Him rightly, we worship Him reverently. That’s the power of repetitious perfection. That’s the echo of eternity.
Next: Repetitious Power – When Victory Declares God’s Name Again and Again