They called Him Son of God, the very first words in what they wrote. And so, Calvin Nowell and Tony Sutherland were echoing what the Father-God said when it came time for His son to launch His earthly ministry, when Jesus was baptized and God acknowledged Him (Matthew 3:17/Mark 1:11/Luke 3:22/John 1:29-34; see a representation of that moment in this work of art The Baptism of Christ, by 15th Century artist Jean Colombe). That time was pretty crucial and has been the reason, along with the earthshaking events that happened at the end of His time on earth, why so many songs have been written about Him, including the “Song of Glory” that Calvin and Tony co-wrote in 2007. The world and the destiny of you and me would be very different if He wasn’t the Son. What Calvin and Tony said poetically was similar to what Jesus Himself said – that if people don’t say who He is, the other parts of creation, even the stones, would cry out (Luke 19:40).
Though Calvin and Tony have not shared explicitly what circumstances spurred what they wrote, their lyrics capture what they felt and express what is so true for all of us. Perhaps that’s why Calvin, in some brief comments he gave at the end of a recording of the ‘Song of Glory’ and two other songs, shared what he obviously felt deep inside. In short, Calvin spoke of what is common for all us humans: that we mess up, but that that doesn’t stop us from being able to approach God with our admission of guilt and regret. He can in fact use our imperfections to speak His power into any situation that troubles us. Calvin urged watchers/listeners to engage with Him, to feel Him deep inside, and know that He loves people, and wants to hear from them so that He can heal them spiritually. That motivation seems to be at the heart of what these two composers shaped into a musical offering to God. The grace and mercy that He has poured out on humankind is so vast, that it cannot be contained just inside us mortals, even if we are His image-bearers. The ‘sky’ and the ‘oceans’ and ‘seas’ that Calvin and Tony mention are also part of His creation that joins in the chorus of praise to Him. That His grace ‘saturates my life’ is really an extension of how the non-human elements of His creative power are expressing – each moment of every day – Him. He forgives and grants mercy that doesn’t just sit there, it ‘sings’ of Him, and if we’ll open our eyes and hearts, we might capture what Calvin and Tony saw – that the ‘strong melody’ He has composed for us overcomes and ‘breaks the chains’ of guilt that we might otherwise bear. He stood in ‘endless light’, but gave of Himself so that ‘a thousand dreams’ became reality. A ‘rescue’ that you and I desperately need has been provided by what He’s done – really, by who He is. He is the love (1 John 4:8) that we proclaim, just as mightily, we aspire, as the ‘seas (that) resound’, the ‘oceans (that) roar’, that ‘fills the sky’, and ‘as the heavens sing’. Just try doing what nature is saying without pausing, Calvin and Tony suggest.
That is the life of the believer, this ‘Song of Glory’ that Calvin and Tony coax us to live. ‘Send up a shout’ from the very depths of your insides, as you stop for a moment and contemplate what they’ve said about Him. If you have something that hinders your praise, He wants ‘your deep’ reaching out to His ‘deep’, because He’s not just an everlasting being who is set on casting you aside. You and I are part of His creation, but in fact the most special living things that have been made in His likeness to exercise dominion over the rest of the living things (Genesis 1:26-28). That Jesus came as a man, looking like the rest of us, underscores that Genesis principle. And, Jesus exercised authority over the rest of creation while He was here -- as when He stilled the storm on the sea (Matthew 8:23-27) -- that really epitomized what God said about dominion that He wanted man to exercise. Mistakes entered the picture, seemingly upsetting the perfect picture that God had made. Except, He had a plan. And, it’s still working, and cannot be detoured, as when the first human pair were forced out of Eden. In fact, we’re all looking forward to making our way back to the beginning, to Eden. Jesus Christ is blazing the trail. Wanna join in?
See some brief comments from one of the composers (Calvin Nowell) at the end of the video linked here (10:09-minute mark through 11:40 [end], a collage of three songs he sings [Unrestrained; Song of Glory; and Jesus Come]): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-edxRbII8
see PDF copy + Song Of Glory this site that shows copyright date of song in comments section
See information about the image here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Folio_109v_-_The_Baptism_of_Christ.jpg …The author died in 1493, so 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. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.
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