How Great Is Our God
Chris Tomlin · Arriving
Straightforward, whole-hearted worship
What do these signals mean?
- Edifying: Points the heart toward God, truth, hope, or love.
- Worth Weighing: Real good and real concern together. Test it before you take it in.
- Take Caution: Leans toward what could dull or mislead. Approach carefully.
- Consider Avoiding: Celebrates what Scripture warns against. Little here builds up.
Weighed against Scripture
“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:”
The image of God wrapping himself in light and being clothed in majesty maps almost directly onto this passage, which was likely a conscious source for the lyric.
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
The pairing of 'the Lion and the Lamb' comes straight from this passage, anchoring the song's Christology in the vision of the throne room.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
'Name above all names, worthy of all praise' reflects Paul's declaration that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess his lordship.
This is an unambiguous worship anthem. The lyrics draw on Revelation, the Psalms, and Trinitarian theology to declare God's majesty and invite the whole world into praise. There is no tension to navigate here. The song does exactly what it sets out to do: orient the listener's heart upward and outward toward God's greatness.
Entirely reverent language drawn from biblical imagery: light, majesty, the Godhead, the Lion and the Lamb. Nothing to flag.
Every line is oriented toward God's greatness, eternality, and triune nature. The posture is corporate worship inviting others to join in praise.
Written explicitly as a congregational worship song. Tomlin's intent is clear and consistent with his body of work: to lead people into praise of God.
When you sing 'all will see how great is our God,' do you find yourself genuinely expecting that, and what would it mean for how you live this week if you did?