The Theology of Worship Music – How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin, et. al.

The Theology of Worship Music – How Great Is Our God

by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves

This song, written in 2004, still sits at #8 on CCLI’s Top 25. The main reason is the timeless message contained in the lyrics. How Great Is Our God is a simple song of praise to God. It reminds me of the 24 elders mentioned in The Revelation that circle the throne of God for eternity. They never tire of giving worship to God. We should have the same awe in our worship. This song gives voice to the heart-cry of the Believer.

Verse one gives two images of God; that of a King and Light. There are multiple places in scripture that speak to both of these. Here are a few that I chose.

Psalm 93:1 (ESV) The LORD reigns (King); he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

John 1:4-5 (ESV) In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The chorus encourages anyone willing to join in singing praises to God. When we praise “then all will see how great is our God.”

Psalm 109:30 (ESV) With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

The second verse gives several images to evoke praise from the singer. The first is that God is eternal: “age to age”, “time is in His hand”, “beginning and the end”.

Ephesians 3:21 (ESV) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Lamentations 5:19 (ESV) But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.

Daniel 4:3 (ESV) How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Revelation 1:8 (ESV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Then it speaks of the triune nature of God: “the Godhead, Three in One”, “Father, Spirit, Son”.

Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Lastly it refers to Jesus, the returning Messiah: “The Lion and the Lamb”.

Revelation 5:5-6 (ESV) And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

The bridge of the song brings the worshipper to a higher place from which to worship our God. Not only does the music take you higher in voice, but also the lyric gets your mind focused on things above. The reality of worship is that God does not increase when we praise Him. Our view of Him is magnified when we give ourselves to praising Him.

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 18:3 (ESV) I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

I hope we continue to sing this “new hymn” of the Church. I know most modern worship songwriters do not care for that term because “hymn” is usually interpreted “antiquated”. I do not use that definition. The New Testament uses the word “hymn” often. The Greek word is “hymneo” and simply means, “to celebrate God in song.” We are the ones that have ascribed a negative meaning to the word.

So with that said, let the Church sing its hymns until we see Jesus again!

The Theology of Worship Music – Our God by Chris Tomlin, et. al.

The Theology of Worship Music – Our God

by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman

One of the Hebrew words for praise is “halal,” which means, “to boast about our God.” This song, Our God, by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and others is the essence of “halal.” From beginning to end the lyrics tell of the wonderful things God has done.

The verses allude to things Jesus did during His time on earth. Turning water into wine (the wedding in John 2), opening the eyes of the blind (John 9 and others), and shining in darkness (John 8:12) are clear references to actions or statements made by Jesus.

The chorus lauds the attributes of Our God: greater, stronger, higher, healer, and awesome in power. (There are multiple references for these.) The bridge then declares complete faith in Our God by declaring, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” (Romans 8:31)

I love singing this song, and any song like it. There is no greater way for Believers to express their faith than through declarative songs like Our God. If you’re not familiar with it, check it out.

The Theology of Modern Worship Music – One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails) by Brian Johnson, et. al.

The Theology of Modern Worship Music – One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)

by Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford, Jeremy Riddle

There are some very interesting videos on YouTube and other places that give you the lyrics to part of a song and ask, “Is it a love song or worship song?” Many times it is hard to distinguish between the two. I understand that worship to Jesus from His Church, the Bride of Christ, is love songs to Him. I have led many of the songs that fall into this nebulous realm because they lack direct references to the Trinity.

Today’s song is one of these. One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails) is a song that has one focus: love. When sung in a worship setting it gives voice to the deep love the Believer has for his/her Lord. If you were to tune in to a random radio station playing the song it could just as easily be a secular love song.

The bridge is the most overtly Christian of all of the lyrics. “My debt is paid. There’s nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love.” It’s hard to imagine how this phrase could be mistaken as a secular love song.

At any rate, that is one of the main criticisms given modern worship music. I personally don’t have a problem with it. I know what is in my heart when I sing songs like this. I don’t have a problem with “redeeming” secular love songs and using them as worship to the Lord. We have sung Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” many times in worship. I love it.

You're everything I hoped for

You're everything I need

You are so beautiful

To me

Well, let’s get back to the issue at hand. What is the theology behind One Thing Remains? As I mentioned earlier, the song has a sing focus: love. I believe it to be the love of God. Here’s something Jesus said that can help us understand why a Believer might sing this song.

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV) “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

That pretty well explains the title: One Thing. When Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, says love is the most important thing you can take it to the bank.

1 John 4:19 (ESV) We love because he first loved us.

The only reason we the capacity to love is because of the love of God. His love becomes our purpose, our mission, our ministry.

1 John 3:16 (ESV) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Just as verse two of the song declares, “On and on and on and on it goes, it overwhelms and satisfies my soul”, we could go on and on about the love of God. It is the reason we worship. I’m glad we have songs like One Thing Remains to express our gratitude to God for His love, without which we would be lost, and without His love we would not the capacity to love others.

Thanks, Bethel Music, for generating some great worship songs to lead us into a deeper walk with our Lord.

The Theology of Worship Music – Lord, I Need You by Christy Nockels, et. al.

The Theology of Worship Music – Lord, I Need You

by Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher

A song of prayer to our Lord, Jesus Christ, is one of the purest forms of worship. This is a song of consecration unto God; Lord, I Need You. The theme is clearly prayer directed toward God. There is no specific scripture passage that is identifiable in the text of the verses or chorus, but you can find many passages that reinforce the thoughts expressed.

I think the idea of the song came from the familiar hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour.” The choruses of both songs are very similar. The verses, however, are very different. In case you are not familiar with the old hymn, here are the verses and refrain (chorus).

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Refrain:

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;

Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Public domain.

Verses by Annie S. Hawks, 1872

Refrain (chorus) by Robert Lowry, 1872

Verse one of Lord, I Need You begins with bowing before the Lord and declaring our need for Him. Verse two follows with a description of God’s grace and purification (holiness) through the presence of Christ in our life.

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

The hook of the song is my favorite line and is found in the chorus: “My One Defense, my Righteousness.” When we face our Maker at judgment our only hope for entering heaven is through our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our only Defense when on trial in heaven’s court. It is through His righteousness, and Him becoming our Righteousness, that we are able to stand before the Lord without shame.

I love the old hymn. I love the new hymn. Both are great songs of consecration to the Lord. Let us stay submitted to Him.

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.