These three friends set out to make a song, a LOUD song. That is how David Leonard envisioned “Great Are You Lord”, something not terribly original, but one that could let a crowd sing with abandon and energy. He must have felt like the worship crowds he was trying to guide could use an injection of life, something that would metaphorically look like some old dry bones coming to life (as in what the prophet Ezekiel saw, reproduced in this 19th Century engraving by Gustave Dorè). And actually, David and his friends Jason Ingram and Leslie Jordan also borrowed and re-phrased an idea from a fourth musical friend (Matt Redman) to provide some of the inspiration for the song they were trying to bring about. And still, according to David Leonard, the song almost didn’t happen, except that this group kept working this one over and over until something clicked. Was it their own dry bones that needed the Spirit’s influence?
This song really was a group effort, with each of the members bringing some of their own thoughts to what would eventually emerge (sometime in either 2012 or 2013). Jason apparently had been sharing with Matt Redman about David’s desire to create a spirited anthem, a feeling not unfamiliar to Matt, who told Jason he felt that hearing a crowd really lifting God’s name in worship through song while in the very presence of Him was a matchless experience. That gave Jason a thought which was inserted into the song’s lyrics – that God’s ‘breath (was) in our lungs…’, so praise just could not be limited. That thought provided the initial push for the song’s creation as Jason, David, and Leslie sought to add more lyrics in their joint session. They eventually added words about God giving ‘life’ and ‘hope’; being ‘love’; ‘restor(ing) …broken hearts’; and bringing ‘light to the darkness’ – all great reasons to shout the song’s title words. Whether it was one of them alone or a collaborative thought, the imagery of Ezekiel 37 leapt to their lips too, as they imagined a whole army of lifeless skeletons suddenly becoming reanimated. ‘These bones will sing’, they said, but it was more than just one valley where they saw God’s hand at work; they believe He’s got ‘the whole earth’ on His mind. As Leslie explained, this vivid imagery helps spur a certain fervor and unparalleled power among His people, something that can speak volumes to a world filled with those who don’t yet believe. We’re all waiting with great anticipation the New Heaven and New Earth, but it’s not too soon to tell Him now what we think of that great future that He’s preparing.
There’s a point in the podcast with David (see its link below – ‘simplecast….david-leonard’) in which he admits that there’s not a whole lot more to the lyrics that he and Jason and Leslie settled on. Perhaps that’s why David suggests that the group almost put aside the song as an unfinished work, thinking it still needed some more. But, as they think now, what more needs to be said, in order to say ‘thank you’ to Him over and over? The blessings He’s already delivered are plenty to acknowledge, and to mull over in their depth and breadth. He’s lived up to His promises about bringing hope and life and purpose, not to mention restoration to broken people through countless Christian communities. Further, access your imagination, and just think of your lifeless form rising from a coffin someday. Be reborn, with rejuvenated parts, and just look around at your friends and loved ones alongside. Wow! That’s the feeling that David, Jason, and Leslie were after with this song. Pass that along to others, and watch this electric contagion take hold!
See here for the song story: https://www.logos.com/grow/great-lord-new-classic/
Hear the story of the song here: https://jesus-songs.simplecast.com/episodes/001-great-are-you-lord-david-leonard-ju2TebN6 (begin here: 18:20 – 22:11)
See here for information about the authors/composers: Great Are You Lord | Hymnary.org
Information and link to the image of the dry bones: The Vision of The Valley of The Dry Bones - Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones - Wikipedia. This image is in the public domain because it is a mere mechanical scan or photocopy of a public domain original, or – from the available evidence – is so similar to such a scan or photocopy that no copyright protection can be expected to arise. The original itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer.
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