We’re singing a hymn this Sunday. What?!? Why is a contemporary service singing anything older than 3 years? Don’t get me started . . .

Anyway, the lyrics to this hymn, O Worship the King, are really good. Look it up on www.google.com. A few years ago, one of my favorite contemporary worship artists, Chris Tomlin, did a remake on the hymn and, borrowing a few words from various verses, added a chorus. As with most of Chris’s stuff, the musical aspect of his chorus isn’t fabulously amazing or incredibly artistic. It’s very simple (easy for novice guitar players like me) but solid. However, as with most of his music, the lyrics are beyond wonderful.

You alone are the macthless King,
To You alone be all majesty!
Your glories and wonders,
What tongue can recite?
You breathe in the air,
You shine in the light.

Look at the last two lines. What does he mean by that? Obviously, he’s talking to God. Is he saying that God breathes air like we do? Not exactly. What he’s saying is that air is breathable because God is breathing in it. Light shines because God is in the light shining. If God left the light, it wouldn’t shine. Likewise, we can breathe the air because God is in it, breathing. If God did not breathe in the air, we could not breathe the air. God makes light shine and air breathable. It’s basically a very poetic way of saying, “God, You are the air that I breathe and the light shining in my life.”

Pretty cool for an old song . . .