NEW MUSIC
SONG FOCUS // “KING OF KINGS”
by Hillsong Worship
which is a gritty, southern romp celebrating the multiple verses that tell the complete Gospel
freedom and joy we have when we are washed story and a singular, powerful theme. The
by the blood of Jesus through our baptism. melody is simple to pick out and this is a song
that will be loved by different generations of
Sunday morning pew sitters.
“God So Loved” is a powerful song invitation
based on John 3:16 that explores the all-
encompassing nature of the Gospel for all
who believe. Hillsong is probably the most well-known
The pensive "Dancing on the Waves," dares us world of worship music. With over 25 albums
to step to the edge of our comfortability to trust
in Jesus in life's uncertainties while “SOS” is an
authentic plea for help as Frannie Cash uses
the battle of the will found in Romans 7 while
name on the planet when it comes to the
released and hundreds of chart topping songs
sung in thousands of churches around the
world, the name Hillsong is synonymous with
modern worship. Though popular with the
crying out for God’s ultimate salvation. mainstream worship audience, I often found
“Sing Wherever I Go” is a song of celebration structure and arrangements as they continued
of the freedom that we experience as children
of the King as well as a call to worship Him in
myself disappointed in their writing, song
to turn out albums that in my opinion lacked
theological depth, creativity and uniqueness.
every circumstance. Then something changed in 2016 with their
This is a great little EP. We The Kingdom such songs as “What a Beautiful Name”, “Your
reminds this reviewer of early Rend Collective
with their raucous blend of out-of-the-box
instrumentation mixed with raw and vulnerable
lyrics that will connect with things that every
listener has been through.
Let There Be Light release which featured
Word” and “Grace To Grace”. It seemed like
the whole team grew up both creatively and
spiritually and I suddenly began to find songs
that were both lyrically fresh and scripturally
deep while connecting with listeners on a very
personal level.
in darkness before a rush of light descends as
the God of the universe trades in his “throne of
endless glory for a cradle in the dirt”. The word
images of throne and dirt create a wonderful
polar opposite that clues the listener into just
how big this sacrifice was going to be.
We then get a glimpse of the simple liturgical
chorus that has been used in churches
for centuries yet now is sung as a modern
response to this gift of salvation as Ligertwood
passionately sings; “Praise the Father, praise
the Song. Praise the Spirit three in one”.
Verse two reveals the plan of salvation by
pointing out that in order to reconcile the lost
to Himself, Jesus would have to suffer on a
cross and verse three proclaims the glorious
completion of the plan as we hear about
Jesus rising from the dead in victory on Easter
morning. The final verse speaks of the freedom
So when I reviewed their Oct. 2019 album,
“Awake” I was not surprised to find that the
trend had continued with such great songs as
“Awake My Soul”, “From Whom All Blessings
Flow (Doxology)” and “Upper Room”. One of
my favorite songs off of that album was Brooke
Ligertwood’s “King of Kings” which is a creative
re-telling of the Gospel narrative that maps out
God’s redemptive plan to save His people from
eternal separation.
“King of Kings” breaks the mold of typical song
structure by taking on more of a modern hymn
quality with a myriad of theological truths,
February 2020
Verse one finds a hopeless world, enthralled
that we now have in Christ while calling us to
share the flame of the Gospel so that all may
be saved.
To put it simply, “King of Kings” is a great
congregational song that will connect with
every listener as it tells the whole story of the
Gospel with creative lyrics and strong biblical
truth. Your church should be singing this one
this Sunday.
Gerod Bass
Worship leader in Tacoma, WA. Mentor with Worship
Catalyst. Singer, songwriter, guitarist with a passion
for impacting lives for the sake of the Gospel.
www.oslc.com
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