The Greatness of Our God -- Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan, Stuart David Garrard

 

‘I AM.’ (Exodus 3:14; John 4:26; John 8:58) How often did He need to say this? The God Moses met, and the One who talked with a Samaritan woman at a water hole, and then debated with some skeptical Jews, did not only mouth this claim. He lived it, so that no one would be able to doubt “The Greatness of Our God”, except those who were too stubborn and prideful to admit what was obvious. That’s what Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan, and Stuart David Garrard were also echoing for worshippers at the Hillsong Convention Center in Australia (see it pictured here) in the 2009 period. Jason’s conversation with a performing artist (Natalie Grant) at the time underscored some takeaways for her, too, though her initial reaction to the song suggested she was dubious about its novelty. But, just consider the matchless nature of Him, the Creator and Sustainer. Is it really overkill to sing about His renown one more time, with a different set of words and new music that these three composers developed? It’s also safe to say that eternity will never grow old because of Him, and the wonder of discovering every facet of Him.  

 

‘The Greatness of Our God’ was undoubtedly something intrinsic to the experience of people who actually met Him face-to-face in the person of Jesus. Watch well-done video depictions of His life that try to show the biblically-recorded episodes of someone who was healed. It was new and breathtaking every time; it never became rote or casual to see Him show His power. Perhaps that might be part of the inspiration, though they don’t necessarily say so, which moved Jason, Reuben and Stuart to compose their words and music. The people He healed were downtrodden and fearful before His touch revolutionized their existence; and when He raised Lazarus, that was His way of demonstrating that He even controls life itself, that He overcomes even death. Is there any greater anxiety for mortals? Natalie Grant’s recollection of a conversation with Jason Ingram about this song, which he convinced her to record, suggests that this basic human weakness – anxiety – and how God makes us overcomers was what she appreciated about the song’s message. Paul’s courageous proclamation in his letter to the Romans highlighted that for Natalie -- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39) That pretty well sums up just how great Paul thought Jesus was, and is. They are potent words, and Jason, Reuben, and Stuart crafted some of their own effective lyrics, especially in the song’s chorus that say the ‘sky (cannot) contain’, and human ‘doubt (cannot) restrain’ His greatness. He’s got it all in His hands. We just need ‘eyes to see’ (v.1), and ‘grace to see’ (v.2) Him for who He is. These three songwriters are also humble enough to write in their own lyrics that a ‘song (cannot) convey’ Him adequately. That humility runs through the song, prompting each of us to embrace that for everyday life. Pretty good message to remember – He’s unquenchably great, and I’m not. I don’t need to be, because He already is.

 

Have fear? How about a pride problem? If you have had that first trait, perhaps that has also, in a way, cured you of that second characteristic, an arrogance that has previously deceived you into thinking you had life under control. Meet God. He’s the one that can take you to a place where there’s no anxiety. And, any pride that you might have had can be instead moved onto boasting about knowing the God who’s really in control (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17; Galatians 6:14). He’s the One who has it all worked out. You see, you can trust Him because He’s the Creator – the sky above us is His handiwork, after all – so if He can do that, do you think He’s capable of taking care of life too? Try on the poetry set to music that Jason, Reuben, and Stuart have given us as a reminder of our smallness, and yet our access to His greatness. It’s never ever too much to sing about one more time.

  

See some comments from an artist who recorded the song after discussing it with one of the writers: Behind The Song: Interview About "Greatness Of Our God" | PraiseCharts

 

Read about the album on which the song appears: A Beautiful Exchange - Wikipedia (indicates the album recorded in 2009, so song composed sometime that year?)

 

See Hillsong Convention Centre image information here: File:Hillsong Convention Centre.jpg - Wikimedia Commons.  This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Tatie2189. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Tatie2189 grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

Open Up Our Eyes -- Chris Brown, London Gatch, Mack Brock, Stuart Garrard, Wade Joyce

 

These fellows were familiar with their bibles…that much probably could be said. There were five of them -- Chris Brown, London Gatch, Mack Brock, Stuart Garrard, and Wade Joyce – who were part of the Elevation Worship Church in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2012 (see the seal of Charlotte here), and they collectively said “Open Up Our Eyes”. But that was not all they had to say to the One their church was elevating. A group of people lifts up a name because of that name-wearer’s reputation, and in this case these five songwriters mentioned several of His characteristics that stood out to them. And if someone opens his eyes to take a look and sees these traits clearly, what follows is a decision that everyone should eventually make for themselves, based upon a simple question: Is He dependable, someone whom I should follow and trust? The response that Chris, London, Mack, Stuart, and Wade recorded also emphasized one other thing to consider: none of us ever has to be alone when He’s in the picture…a big deal when mortality becomes oh so real for each of us.  

 

There’s probably a circumstance or brief story about why these five band members in Charlotte decided to say ‘Open Up Our Eyes’, but it has not been exposed for us to see; perhaps they thought the song’s words said enough about the message they were conveying. Nevertheless, several of the phrases they included in the lyrics provide clues to the song’s genesis. They begin with ‘greater is the One’, so perhaps they were reading what the Hebrews writer had to say about Jesus in several places (3:3, and so much of what follows in the rest of Hebrews). They also refer to the One they trust as ‘mighty’, ‘stronger’, and as ‘Our God…fighting…’, so apparently, they looked to God to help with struggles, an idea that could be found among any number of biblical episodes. But, then there’s also the oft-used phrase ‘His love endures forever’, a pretty common theme in Old Testament history when the people were in a traditional worship space, especially in a tabernacle with the ark of the covenant present, or at the temple, and thus routinely written as part of several psalms (100, 106, 107, 117, 118, and especially 136). But, how about when the people were in fighting mode, when they needed a warrior? There’s one episode, in 2 Chron 20, when a king named Jehoshaphat marshalled the army to fight, and had to instill in them a fervor to take on not just one, but two enemies (Moab and Ammon). At the head of this army were the singers with this phrase in their hearts and on their lips. Can you guess at the outcome of the battle? The men under Jehoshaphat were also under God, and He was the one that mattered most. These men felt that He was with them…there were no foxhole Atheists in that group! The five Elevation worshippers felt the same, for they conclude their own testimonial song with several iterations of ‘We are not alone’ that follow ‘Our God is fighting…’. Was someone named Josh or Jehoshaphat also present as they composed?

 

Jehoshaphat also prayed before the battle (2 Chron. 20:5-12), concluding by saying that …our eyes are on you (God) (v.12). Could that thought also have inspired these 21^st Century songwriters, that our eyes need to be opened to see Him? Could it have also been the episode when the prophet Elisha prayed that the servant with him would see the hills full of horses and chariots to oppose an Aramean army (2 Kings 6:8-23), an army that would be also blinded in the following moments? In either biblical story, God is with those who want to be with Him, to follow Him. Asking to see Him might seem to be a tall order, and in fact it was for Moses (Exodus 33:18-23). But we can see Him now through another (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)…read it and see for yourself how this sight, which was forbidden to Moses, could now be possible.     

 

Read about the group that premiered the song here: Elevation Worship - Wikipedia

 

Read about the album on which the song appeared here: Nothing Is Wasted (album) - Wikipedia

 

See some comments about the song here: Meaning of Open Up Our Eyes by Elevation Worship

 

See information about the seal of Charlotte here: File:New seal of Charlotte, North Carolina.svg - Wikimedia Commons…This file is in the public domain because official item legally exempt from copyright in its country of origin.