How Great Is Our God Lyrics: A Worshipful Exploration of the Lyrics to a Modern Hymn

How Great Is Our God is a song that has touched the hearts and souls of millions of Christians around the world. It is a song that declares the greatness, the glory, and the grace of God in a simple yet powerful way.

It is a song that invites us to worship God with awe and gratitude and to share His love with others. In this article, we will reflect on the meaning and impact of the lyrics of this song, and how they can inspire us to live for God’s glory.

The Background of the Song How Great Is Our God

How Great Is Our God was written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves in 2004. It was released as the first single from Tomlin’s album Arriving, which won the GMA Dove Award for Praise and Worship Album of the Year in 2005.

The song also won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year in 2006 and 2008, and was nominated for Song of the Year in 2006. The song has been covered by many artists, such as CeCe Winans, Ben Tankard, Israel Houghton, Don Moen, and others. It has also been translated into many languages, such as Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Hindi, Korean, and others.

According to Tomlin, the inspiration for the song came from reading Psalm 104, which praises God for His creation and His sovereignty. Tomlin said that he wanted to write a song that would capture the majesty and the mystery of God, and that would be easy to sing and remember. He said that he wanted to write a song that would make people say “Wow, God is amazing!”

The Meaning of the Lyrics How Great Is Our God

The lyrics of How Great Is Our God are divided into three parts: verse 1, chorus, and verse 2. Each part describes a different aspect of God’s greatness: His splendor, His light, and His eternity.

Verse 1

“The splendor of a King Clothed in majesty Let all the earth rejoice All the earth rejoice”

The first verse introduces us to the theme of God’s greatness, which is expressed through His splendor, majesty, and sovereignty over all the earth. The word “splendor” means “brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificence” . The word “majesty” means “supreme greatness or authority; sovereignty”.

The word “King” implies that God is not only great, but also the ruler and judge of all creation. He is clothed in splendor and majesty, which means that His glory and power are visible and evident to everyone.

He deserves to be praised and honored by all the earth, which includes not only humans, but also animals, plants, mountains, oceans, stars, etc. The phrase “let all the earth rejoice” is a call to worship God with joy and gladness, because He is good and worthy of our praise.

Chorus

“He wraps Himself in light And darkness tries to hide And trembles at His voice Trembles at His voice”

The chorus continues to describe God’s greatness, which is manifested through His light, His voice, and His victory over darkness. The word “light” symbolizes God’s holiness, purity, truth, wisdom, and love. The word “darkness” symbolizes evil, sin, ignorance, deception, and hatred.

The phrase “He wraps Himself in light” means that God is surrounded by His own glory and radiance, which reveals His character and nature. The phrase “and darkness tries to hide” means that evil cannot stand before God’s presence and tries to escape from His judgment.

The phrase “and trembles at His voice” means that evil is afraid of God’s power and authority, which are expressed through His word. God’s voice can create, sustain, command, bless, or curse anything He wills. His voice can also comfort, heal, guide, or correct His people. God’s voice is powerful and majestic, and nothing can resist or ignore it.

Verse 2

“Age to age He stands And time is in His hands Beginning and the end Beginning and the end”

The second verse focuses on God’s greatness, which is demonstrated through His eternity, His sovereignty over time, and His alpha and omega status. The phrase “age to age He stands” means that God exists outside of time, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He does not change or fade or die. He is eternal and immortal. The phrase “and time is in His hands” means that God controls and governs time, and He knows the past, present, and future. He can speed up or slow down or stop time as He pleases. He can also intervene in history and fulfill His purposes and promises.

The phrase “beginning and the end” means that God is the source and the goal of everything that exists. He created everything out of nothing, and He will bring everything to its final destination. He is the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the one who was, who is, and who is to come.

The Impact of the Song

How Great Is Our God is a song that has impacted many people in different ways. Some people have shared their testimonies of how the song has helped them to overcome their fears, doubts, or struggles, and to trust in God’s greatness and goodness.

Some people have shared their stories of how the song has inspired them to worship God with more passion, devotion, or gratitude, and to share His love with others. Some people have shared their experiences of how the song has united them with other believers from different backgrounds, cultures, or languages, and to celebrate God’s greatness together.

Here are some examples of the impact of the song:

• A woman from India said that the song helped her to cope with the loss of her husband, who died in a car accident. She said that the song reminded her that God is great and faithful, and that He will never leave her nor forsake her.
• A man from China said that the song inspired him to worship God with more joy and freedom, despite the persecution and oppression he faced as a Christian. He said that the song gave him hope and courage, and that he sang it with his fellow believers in secret meetings.
• A woman from Nigeria said that the song united her with other Christians from different tribes and denominations, who gathered together for a worship event. She said that the song transcended their differences and conflicts, and that they sang it with one voice and one heart.

How Great Is Our God Video

How to Worship God Through the Lyrics of “How Great Is Our God”

Here are some ways to worship God through the lyrics of “How Great Is Our God”:

• Meditate on the lyrics. Take some time to reflect on the meaning of the words and how they apply to your own life. What does it mean to you that God is “clothed in majesty”? What does it mean to you that God “wraps Himself in light”?
• Sing the song with your whole heart. Let the music and lyrics wash over you and lift your spirit up to God. As you sing, focus on expressing your love and adoration for God.
• Pray through the lyrics. Use the lyrics as a springboard for your own prayers. For example, you could pray that God would help you to see His greatness in all things, or that you would be filled with His love.

Conclusion

How Great Is Our God is a song that expresses the greatness of God in a simple yet powerful way. It is a song that invites us to worship God with awe and gratitude and to share His love with others.

It is a song that has touched and transformed many lives around the world. It is a song that we can sing with confidence and joy because we know that our God is great, and He is our God.