The Theology of Worship Music – Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

The Theology of Worship Music – Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

by Joel Houston, Matt Crocker, Salomon Ligthelm

Hillsong has become a standard in the Worship Music Industry. They have consistently had top 25 songs since coming on the scene with Shout to the Lord, and many, many others. Oceans joins that list as one of the top songs for quite some time.

The concept of the song is based in the experience Peter had with Jesus while at sea.

Matthew 14:25-33 (ESV) And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

First of all, the name Oceans is not actually found in the story, but Seas just doesn’t have much ring to it.

This is a story in the Bible that causes many different responses. Many praise Peter for having faith to exit the boat and “step out upon the water” to go to Jesus. But look again. Peter was with the group “terrified, thinking Jesus is a ghost.”

I personally do not think Jesus “called Peter out of the boat” to test his faith. Again, look at the story. Peter put Jesus in a situation where He had few options. Peter commanded, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” What was Jesus to do? Jesus simply responded by saying, “Come.”

Peter did have faith in Jesus’ response. He stepped out of the boat. But soon fear gripped Peter to the point that he began to sink, and feared of drowning. Jesus helped Peter back to the boat where He chastised Peter saying, “Why did you doubt?”

Jesus was coming to join the disciples in the boat. He was not there trying to teach Peter a spiritual lesson. However, being the Teacher that He is, took the opportunity to show Peter he was capable of doing anything through faith.

The chorus in Oceans speaks to the error Peter made. He lost focus on Jesus and started watching the waves. He allowed fear to pull him away from the “call” of Jesus. The song states a determination to “keep my eyes above the waves.” Verse two then follows with a reference to the human condition: we have feet of clay. (Daniel 2:41-42) It follows with a determined proclamation of trust in the Lord: “You’ve never failed, and You won’t start now.”

The bridge of Oceans is a prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to lead us to deep waters where our human strength could never take us. It reminds me of a passage in Ezekiel where the prophet describes “level” of water, which many have correlated with spiritual maturity.

Ezekiel 47:3-9 (ESV) Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”

As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

“Everything will live where the river goes.” If you’ve never read “Following the River” by Bob Sorge, I would highly recommend it. He explains the flow of worship using a river as an analogy to help us. I believe Oceans could have easily been named “Rivers,” but that is left to the author. One obvious reason for the choice of names is the perceived depth of an ocean verses a river.

Except for the bridge of the song, pronouns are used to reference the Godhead. The content of the song is clearly centered on Christ, but lacks a lot of direct reference. Not necessarily a criticism here, just an observation. The song invokes a power response from those that engage in expressing their own faith when singing Oceans. Myself included.