Hymns of God's Sovereignty and Call to Holiness

The church stands on the shoulders of giants, and the gospel of Jesus Christ remains the cornerstone even as cultures and societies keep changing. Old hymns carry more than an old-fashioned sound. They carry rich theology, deep doctrine, and words that still call God’s people to worship him rightly.

Maltby Davenport Babcock’s life showed a man gifted in about every direction, yet called into ministry and drawn again and again into the outdoors to “see my Father’s world.” His poem, later shaped into “This Is My Father’s World,” sees creation declaring what Psalm 19 has always declared: the heavens tell the glory of God, day after day pours forth speech, and all nature sings. God’s questions to Job put humanity in its proper place. God laid the earth’s foundations, marked off its dimensions, and set the world in motion long before anybody could question his wisdom.

Jesus’ words about birds and lilies push that same truth into everyday worry. The birds do not store up in barns, the flowers do not labor or spin, and yet the Father cares for them. God’s sovereignty is not distant or cold. God holds the universe together and cares for grass in the field. The line, “though the wrong seem oft so strong, God is the ruler yet,” meets the hard reality that evil can look like it is winning. Christ’s confession before the high priest answers that darkness plainly: the Son of Man is seated at the right hand of the Mighty One. Jesus is still the ruler.

Reginald Heber’s “Holy, Holy, Holy” brings the church before a God who is not casual, common, or manageable. Moses met holiness at the burning bush. Israel sang of the God who is “majestic in holiness.” Isaiah saw the Lord high and exalted, while seraphim cried, “Holy, holy, holy.” John saw heaven still singing those same words around the throne. God invites a personal relationship as Abba, Father, but God’s nearness must never make his holiness small.

William Longstaff’s “Take Time to Be Holy” turns worship into a personal call. Leviticus and 1 Peter both say, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Holiness means refusing to just go with the flow, even when culture, comfort, brand-building, or fear of conflict pull the other way. Jesus provides the growth as believers abide in him, feed on his Word, and remain in the vine. The Spirit calls believers to wrestle honestly with whatever is not pushing them toward holiness, to keep in step with the Spirit, and to trust that God is the ruler yet.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God is the ruler yet God’s sovereignty does not disappear when wrong seems strong. Christ’s silence before his accusers was not helplessness, because he knew his place at the Father’s right hand. Faithfulness rests on the certainty that history is not slipping out of God’s hands. [29:55]
• 2. Creation keeps declaring God’s glory Psalm 19 sees a world full of speech, even when no audible words are heard. The sun, birds, flowers, and morning light all point beyond themselves to their Maker. Creation calls distracted hearts back to wonder, trust, and worship. [26:06]
• 3. God’s holiness deserves real reverence God is Abba, Father, yet he is also holy, holy, holy. Moses removed his sandals, Isaiah saw the throne, and heaven never stops crying out God’s holiness. Nearness to God should produce love and confidence, but never carelessness. [38:27]
• 4. Holiness requires honest wrestling Holiness asks hard questions about habits, pursuits, and the things that shape a life. Some things may not be bad in themselves, yet still may not push the heart toward Christ. The wrestling itself can reveal the Spirit doing his work and drawing a believer closer. [48:53]
• 5. Jesus provides growth through abiding Jesus does not call branches to produce fruit apart from the vine. His Word, his presence, and his Spirit are not extras for a holy life. Holiness grows as believers remain in him and learn to walk in step with the Spirit.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:25] - On the Shoulders of Giants
• [19:01] - The Gospel Never Changes
• [21:15] - Maltby Davenport Babcock
• [24:40] - Seeing My Father’s World
• [26:06] - Creation Declares God’s Glory
• [29:55] - God Is the Ruler Yet
• [34:21] - Reginald Heber and Holy, Holy, Holy
• [36:37] - God’s Holiness Through Scripture
• [39:09] - Holy, Holy, Holy Around the Throne
• [43:46] - Take Time to Be Holy
• [46:30] - Be Holy Because God Is Holy
• [49:15] - Abide in Christ and Feed on His Word
• [51:32] - Keep in Step With the Spirit
• [57:21] - Pursue Righteousness and Godliness

Bible Reading

Psalm 19:1-6
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” [26:06]

1 Peter 1:15-16
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” [46:30] [47:38]

Matthew 6:26-30
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” [28:29]

Isaiah 6:1-3
“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’” [38:27]

John 15:4-5
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” [51:02]

Observation questions

1. In Psalm 19, what are the different ways creation communicates knowledge of God, even though it does not use audible words? [26:06]
2. What examples does Jesus use in Matthew 6 to show the Father’s care, and what does he say worry cannot accomplish? [28:29]
3. In Isaiah’s vision, what details show both the greatness of God and the reverence of the seraphim before him? [38:27]
4. According to John 15:4-5, what is the relationship between abiding in Christ and bearing fruit? [51:02]

Interpretation questions

1. Psalm 19 and Matthew 6 both point to creation. How do these passages show that God’s sovereignty is personal care, rather than distant control? [29:14]
2. Jesus says that people are more valuable than birds and grass. How might this truth speak into the fears people carry about provision, health, work, or the future? [28:29]
3. Isaiah was invited to see the Lord, yet the seraphim covered their faces before him. What does this teach about holding together confidence that God is Father and reverence for his holiness? [38:48]
4. Peter calls believers to holiness in “all” their conduct, while Jesus says branches can do nothing apart from the vine. Why is holiness not merely trying harder, but remaining close to Christ? [51:02]

Application questions

1. Where have worry or discouragement been especially strong lately? How could the Father’s care for birds, lilies, and even grass help bring that situation before God with greater trust? [28:29]
2. Creation is always declaring God’s glory. What place, rhythm, or moment in the coming week could help you slow down and notice “my Father’s world” instead of moving through life distracted? [26:06]
3. Wrong can seem strong, but God is the ruler yet. What situation in the world, the church, or your own life makes it difficult to believe that God is still in control? What would faithful trust look like there this week? [29:55]
4. God is Abba, Father, and he is also holy, holy, holy. Is there a part of your worship, prayer life, or daily speech about God that has become too casual? What might deeper reverence look like without losing the joy of knowing him as Father? [38:48]
5. Holiness often begins with honest questions. Is there a habit, relationship, form of entertainment, ambition, or schedule commitment that may not be wrong in itself but is not moving you toward Christ? What is one honest next step you could take? [48:53]
6. Jesus provides growth through abiding in him. What practical way could you feed on God’s Word this week—reading, listening, memorizing, or discussing it—especially before turning first to social media, opinions, or distractions? [50:46]
7. To keep in step with the Spirit means not simply going with the flow of culture or other people. In one decision or pressure point you are facing, how can you ask, “Where is Jesus in this situation, and how can I honor him?” [52:06]