597

Holy Is the Lord

Scripture References

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

What we know as the attributes of God reveal his character and being. For these, he is worthy of praise and adoration. Even before he says or does anything, he is praise-worthy. The opening words of Belgic Confession, Article 1 declare that God is “eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good.”

 
The Lord’s Prayer ends with a doxology, and Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 52, Question and Answer 128 extrapolates: “Your holy name…should receive all the praise, forever.” After expressing our trust in the total care of God for all things, Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 9, Question and Answer 26 declares, “God is able to do this because he is Almighty God and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.” And so we express our praise and adoration to God for who he is.

597

Holy Is the Lord

Tune Information

Name
GIGLIO
Key
G Major

Musical Suggestion

For Piano Only Accompaniment:
Optional Intro:
  • Begin with the last phrase at the bottom of the first page, “Holy is the Lord…”, taking the first ending. The people begin to sing with the return to the opening phrase.
— Diane Dykgraaf
597

Holy Is the Lord

Hymn Story/Background

This song took inspiration from two passages in Scripture. Tomlin began to write based on Isaiah 6, where it says “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Giglio then helped with the lyrics for the verse, based on Nehemiah 8:6: “…all the people lifted their hands and responded ‘Amen, Amen!’ Then they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” Released on Tomlin’s 2004 album, Arriving, the song quickly rose to CCLI’s top fifteen, and won “Worship Song of the Year” at the 2007 Dove Awards.
— Laura de Jong

Author and Composer Information

Chris Tomlin (b. 1972) grew up in Grand Saline, Texas. He wrote his first worship song at age fourteen, and has gone on, according to CCLI, to become the most-often sung Christian artist on Sunday mornings. He joined Louie Giglio in leading the Passion Conferences in 1997, and has toured with contemporary artists such as Matt Redman, Delirious?, Steven Curtis Chapman and TobyMac. Tomlin released his first solo album, The Noise We Make, in 2001, and his 2013 album Burning Lights debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200, the 4th ever Christian album to do so. His more well-known songs include “How Great is Our God,” “Jesus Messiah,” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone).” Tomlin and wife Lauren have one daughter.
 
 
— Laura de Jong
Louie Giglio (b. June 30, 1958) is the pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and pursued a Doctor of Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary. In 1985, he and his wife Shelley started a small, weekly Bible study at Baylor University. Within a few years, ten percent of the student body was attending. In 1995, with a desire to hold large worship gatherings for college students, he founded the Passion Movement, and the first Passion Conference was held in 1997. These conferences are now held around the world, with upwards of 40,000 students in attendance. Giglio is the author of a number of books, including The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life and I Am Not But I Know I Am: Welcome to the Story of God. He is internationally recognized for his talks “Indescribable” and “How Great is Our God.” He and his wife are the directors of sixsteprecords, the recording label of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and David Crowder Band.
— Laura de Jong

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