Photo by Martino Pietropoli
Christian rock band Elevation Worship started in 2007, quickly rising as a major influencer in today’s Christian music. They released 17 albums and 8 EP’s, including Here as in Heaven (2016), There Is a Cloud (2017), and Graves into Gardens (2020).
Also, check out my other fifteen Elevation Worship reviews.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Elevation-worship-rattle-live-lyrics.
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review. I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.
1. What message does the song communicate?
The song starts by personifying Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the context of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Friday was excited. Saturday was quiet. Sunday’s resurrection event disappointed those who killed Jesus on Friday. That which is humanly impossible cannot stop God from acting!
The song moves to Chorus, which introduces us to Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. God’s people were once spiritually dead, but have come to life, just like the lifeless bones took on flesh and began to move.
As the song progresses, we catch a glimpse of Pentecost, where Jesus’ followers receive the Holy Spirit. God’s not done with miracles, including Elevation Worship’s spiritual awakening (or whoever leads worship).
Later, Elevation Worship plays prophet, predicting that within their vicinity, a miracle will break out. I question how they’ve come to that conclusion.
The first Bridge speaks of God’s ability to rescue and restore anyone. Elevation Worship makes another prediction, that someone at that moment is experiencing this. How do they know that? Do they feel this movement every time they sing this song? Bridge 2 also contains a similar prophecy, that they hear the dry bones coming to life. It’s possible that I’m overthinking this, and I get that Elevation Worship is probably trying to encourage their audience, but I question the truthfulness of their prophecy.
Bridge 2 harkens back to Ezekiel’s prophecy, that hearing the Word of God brings life to those who receive it.
Score: 7/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
While much of it agrees with the Bible, other lyrics are prophetic and questionable:
- How does Elevation Worship know that:
- Another miracle is coming (Verse 4, lines 3 and 4)?
- Remove the stones in the tombs at this very moment (Bridge 1, Lines 12-15)?
- Hears the sound of bones rattling (Bridge 2, lines 1-6)?
[Verse 1]
Lines 1 and 2: If we assume that:
- Jesus died on Good Friday
- Parts of days count as a day
These opening lines communicate the silence in Jesus’ grave, that He is physically dead. It was kept under guard (Matthew 27:65-66). Mary Magdeline and the other women prepared the spices on Friday, rested on the Sabbath, and visited the tomb on Sunday to anoint Jesus’ body (Matthew 28:1 and Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, and John 20:1).
Lines 3 and 4: This gives us a foretaste of what God will do on Sunday morning. The God that impossible things (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 32:27, Zechariah 8:6, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 1:37) is about to act!
[Verse 2]
Lines 1 and 2: From the perspective of those who killed Jesus on Friday, they will be disappointed to find the tomb empty (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-10).
Lines 3 and 4: Repeats Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.
[Chorus]
Lines 1-8: The vision of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37:1-14 is that he saw a valley of dry bones. This represents the nation of Israel’s spiritual deadness, where God will one day restore it. The resurrection of Jesus is the firstfruits of this spiritual awakening (1 Corinthians 15:20-23), where His followers become born again (John 3:3) and receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), including gentiles who would be grafted in (Romans 11:1-21). It’s in this sense that we could “walk again” and “come out” of the grave.
Lines 9 and 10: Repeats line 1 and 2.
[Verse 3]
Lines 1 and 2: References Acts 2:1-4, where the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Lines 3 and 4: Of course not! How would an omnipotent God (Genesis 1:1-31, Job 11:7-11, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Jude 1:24-25) run of out miracles?
[Verse 4]
Lines 1 and 2: That is, Elevation Worship is the recipient of a spiritual resurrection. See commentary on Chorus, lines 1-8.
Lines 3 and 4: How does Elevation Worship know that? How do we know that if we sang this song in our living rooms? Perhaps I’m overthinking this, but there is a possibility that this statement could be false. It’s encouraging for sure, but my concern is about false hope. Especially if other worship leaders repeat this song’s lyrics.
[Bridge 1]
Lines 1-3: This is so because God is omnipotent. See Scripture in Verse 3, lines 3 and 4.
Lines 4-7: This comes from 2 Kings 13:20-21, where a dead man touched the bones of Elisha and was resurrected.
Lines 8-11: Though the stone cannot answer, the implication is that God rolled it away (Matthew 28:2, Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2, and John 20:1) and resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
Lines 12-15: Expressions of feeling that God will “roll” the “stone” away in our lives. See commentary on Verse 4, lines 3 and 4.
[Bridge 2]
Lines 1-6: I’m on the fence. On the one hand, it’s generally true that yes, there are people who become saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, this could be taken as prophetic, that people within Elevation Worship’s earshot are coming to Christ. If the former, then very well. If the latter, then again, I must ask: how does Elevation Worship know this?
Lines 7-10: This is also part of the Ezekiel 37 prophecy, that hearing the word of God causes life. The implication is that some will receive it and inherit life.
Line 11: Repeats line 10.
Line 12: That is, dry bones that rattle. See commentary on lines 7-10.
Line 13: Repeats line 8.
Lines 14 and 15: Repeats line 10.
Line 16: Repeats line 12.
Lines 17-32: Repeats lines 13-16.
[Outro]
Lines 1-13: Repeats portions of Chorus and Bridge 2.
Score: 7/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
This song is so thick with Christianese, it’s difficult to say how much the average unbeliever will comprehend. The central theme is the valley of dry bones, a dream that few non-Christians will be familiar with without deeper study. There are also references to the three days Christ was buried, which may have more familiarity to believers. I’m less confident in their recognizing Pentecost and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
At the least, they will know that it’s a Christian song given its resurrection references and the Word of the Lord that causes life.
Score: 4/10
4. What does this song glorify?
While it implicitly glorifies God that His resurrection power can cause the spiritually dead (and physical body of Jesus) to life, it’s impacted by possible false prophecies of Elevation Worship.
Score: 7/10
Closing Comments
I’m not impressed with Elevation Worship’s RATTLE!. On the one hand, it brings glory to God that His power to raise Jesus to life can also restore our dead hearts into His glorious light. It is also positive and uplifting. On the other, the many prophecies of Elevation Worship could easily become false if nobody receives Christ during their concerts. The same is true for anyone else who sings these words. It’s also difficult for unbelievers to interpret without prior knowledge of Ezekiel’s vision and interpretation by God.
I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.
Final Score: 6.5/10
Artist Info
Track: RATTLE! (listen to the song)
Artist: Elevation Worship
Album: Graves Into Gardens
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2020
Duration: 7:12
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Updates:
09/14/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Elevation Worship’s theology.
03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.
Comments
Michael Ramsey
I agree this song is not a congregational song, however I still personally like to listen to the song.
fromtheashesofdust
Is it not a miracle that every time the Word is spoken and someone hears and believes that that go from death to life? I am a miracle that this happened too. Like the sower who sowed seed and woke up to find that it had sprouted without understanding how. Its a miracle weekly in the room watching people come from spiritual death to life! They may be singing it about physical but I’m singing it about the spiritual!
Gar Misra
I’m not following the context of “Resurrection power runs in my veins too.”
Are they claiming they’re like Christ who raised men from the dead in the Father’s name?
This is objectionable to me. We are the inheritors of God’s Grace, not his ability to work miracles. Might as well send out an email saying to pray that some little girl be raised from the dead. Oh I forgot, Bethel already did that and it didn’t work.
God’s miracles are all in His time and by His will, not ours.
Peter
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
John 14:12
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
So resurrection power running in my veins too can be likened to Romans 8:11 because we believe it’s the Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead
And the next verse is Jesus’ own words of assuring us that we will perform greater miracles if we believe in Him so in my humble opinion I think it’s scriptural
Tyeisha
Hi Vince. Just wanted to let you know that on your latest update on 9/14/21 that you have Hillsong and Darlene Zschech instead of Elevation church where you encouraged readers to look at their beliefs. Just wanted to bring this to your attention. God bless and keep up the amazing work.
Vince Wright
Tyeisha,
Thanks for letting me know! I updated it.
-Vince Wright
tyeisha
You’re welcome. God bless.
Pat Anderson
I also do not think this is a congregational song. After our church sang it one Sunday, a first grader in Sunday School brought it up and told me it frightened her. Not the feeling you want kids to have in a service.
jessewisinski
In regards to elevation claiming “I believe there’s another miracle here in this room”, I’d like to think they are professing with faith and speaking things into existence – Reference Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:23, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Mark 11:24, Psalm 33:9.
If the same spirit that lives in us raised Christ from the dead, and we are called to live like Christ, how can you say that someone is wrong for believing that will be another miracle in a room when Jesus performed miracles?
Vince Wright
jessewisinski,
Thank you for your comments!
First, miracles are great and they give glory to God when they occur, but they are also rare events. For every person who is miraculously healed of cancer, there are dozens, maybe even hundreds or thousands, that are not healed. It might be helpful to define what a “miracle” is when Elevation Worship states that they believe in them. For example, some people would say having a child is a miracle of God. Others might think that getting a job, getting help to move, and buying a house are miracles. My understanding of a miracle is phenomena that occurs that cannot be explained through natural means. Elevation Worship’s definition, based on the lyrics, seems to be any answered prayer.
Second, while I do believe people can speak and miracles occur, it’s because God willed it, that this miracle that takes place glorifies Him (John 14:13). It’s not a guaranteed formula.
Finally, you asked if it was wrong for Elevation Worship to believe miracles will exist. My chief concern is then that belief is unrealized. Is it because Elevation Worship did not have enough faith? That’s a common accusation when such professions do not materialize. I realize that my reviews tend to side towards a Word of Faith interpretation, but this is partly due to personal interactions with people who left Christianity by believing as Elevation Worship does. I do not want people to lose their faith because they believed God would perform a miracle.
-Vince Wright
Paul Rocker
Hi Jesse you are right – even some of the People who turn up at our church is very unexpected and God has literally worked miracles to get them there and keep them there. In addition even having Gods presence with us through his Spirit is in many ways beyond normal comprehension or belief and could be said to be miraculous.
Nat
How does Elevation Worship know that:
Another miracle is coming (Verse 4, lines 3 and 4)?
The lyrical statement begins with “I believe.” They are not claiming to know. The fact that you continued to critique this song using falsehoods to try and convince your readers of something the song does not express has rendered this entire review moot.
Joe F
I’ve been getting multiple requests to consider adding this song to our repertoire and only recently gave it a good listen. I think this acoustic rendition is one of the best versions: https://youtu.be/f3VY6pTKm3s Less than 5min and very simple and straightforward.
I personally believe the future holds many more blessings from God, including miracles. If I state what I believe God holds in store for us however, I am not necessarily prophesying, but rather simply sharing my beliefs about what I think hope and pray He will do. I think the same applies to the song lyric intent.
I also believe that our messages and song lyrics are primarily for the edification of the saints and am less concerned about non believers being able to decipher them. God calls us to GO and make disciples, not round them up in our church buildings where we’ll dumb everything down for them at the expense of our own growth. Eph 4:12-13.
paula
Joe, you have an encouraging teaching gift! Love your insight.
James Becker
I do like that acoustic version probably better than the official long one. It took me a minute to figure out what the song was talking about hearing it the first time cold….I’ve been leading contemporary worship since 71 thanks Joe
Aaron
Just want to comment that I feel and believe every breath that I have is a miracle in my eyes. I think that ultimately it’s the intention. It’s a lot more dangerous to think God isn’t going to conduct a miracle than to express the faith that He will. And by the way this isn’t an argument against anyones comments in particular. Just wanted to way in, I like the song personally
Terry L Archuleta Chavez
You can believe whatever you want to , and they can, but I think when you are using this type of lyrical content to bring worship to
God, I doubt that he is impressed with our ability to come up with novel and catchy beliefs. He values truth, HIS truth as the only one. WE cannot worship just however we feel if the music is catchy.
Charlie
Ezekiel’s prophecy of dry bones is connected to the return of Jews from around the world to the land of Israel. I can’t connect the lyric of the song “Rattle” with the meaning of this prophecy.
Vince Wright
Charlie,
Thank you for your comments!
There are other considerations:
1) Gentiles are grafted into the fold as Jews inwardly (Romans 2:28-29 and Romans 11:11-24).
2) All Christ-followers will enter new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-27).
3) Christ prepared a place for us in this new Jerusalem (John 14:3).
-Vince Wright
Rebekah Hardy
Hi Charlie,
When I listen to this song and read the prophecy in Ezekiel, it makes me think of those places that I see as dead or dry and it reminds me of the fulness of life that Jesus spoke about that can come to all those places. What is impossible for man is possible for God and truly strength comes from His spirit.
I think that’s the amazing thing about God’s word and His Spirit, what may not encourage you, has deep meaning to me. And I am sure there are places in scripture that you hold dear that I would not understand in such a way.
Can we sing any song in communal worship, that is true for all of us, all the time, the same way?
I don’t know!
Xx
Terry
Finally. An objective,”truth before emotion” assessment. Scripture was not written with the key objective of making us feel good, but the truth,rightly proclaimed, often does give us the encouragement we need. Not to mention that tweeking Scripture is something God told us not to do.
prchr
I love the song and could see it in concert worship which is their forte as opposed to a liturgical setting. The power is the word of God. Whether it’s a spiritual birth or the resurrection to come, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. As far as outsiders understanding, they are spiritually discerned to start with… the band is using their gifts, God gets the glory. May we use ours as well as they use theirs!
Isa Live
I love this song. It speaks to me it screeams, at times , in my direction and straightens my spine as I drink more of Jesus’ love . I get loud as I sing with this song :-)…my knees shaking as they’re awakening and saluting every statement that this song makes.
From into addiction and death
To Agape , arms of genuine appreciation of me and His handy work..
I love the action calling the song telling me to live and yeah I don’t have any wanting anymore, no chains, no weight of trying to be forgiven.
He’s done it. He lives in me. Every line and utterance of this song is one of my new favorite things in life..
Love,
~ A once-dead-addict-person-child of the 1 true God.
Rich
Great summation, Brother….
Rich
Correct and if you listen to it and are not moved, you are beyond Dead!
Cee Pax
I agree with the review. If the song, in 2020, is calling people to Christ – why the heavy Christianese from an obscure prophesy from Ezekiel, primarily for the nation of Isreal? As much as I read these lyrics, I do not know what the lyricist is on about — it is only familiarity with scripture that lets me vaguely tie it together — I can only conclude this: God can do anything. He is so great that he can even use this song to bring in the lost.
Vince Wright
Cee Pax,
Much appreciated, thanks for your feedback!
-Vince Wright
Frank Cross
I do agree with your review of this song.
Devin B. Ward (@devinward96)
Completely agree with your rating on congregational friendliness. I recently performed this song as a fill in keyboard player and this was before ever hearing the song or vetting the lyrics. It didn’t set right. As a charismatic, prophetic utterances must be backed by scripture and be true hence the word prophetic. Well one cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prophetic phrases every time the song is played by a church and that is very cautionable.
This song reminds me of a song I recently reviewed by bethel on my new website I’m building (shameless plug lol) https://thelaymansapologist.weebly.com/3/post/2020/08/examining-bethels-come-out-of-that-grave.html
I really appreciate your overall tone in this review and is thoroughly done. Thank you.
Vince Wright
Devin,
Thank you for your comments and compliment!
-Vince Wright
Mark
It seems to me, this song is trying to sneak “grave soaking” into mainstream acceptance. Otherwise I cannot explain such obscure and, in my opinion, misused scriptures.
Marc Glendon
Strangely you do not quote scripture in your evaluation, yet the song is about scripture. The song speaks about faith in the everlasting goodness of God.
Psalm 133. The Lord loves it when His children live in UNITY.
Why decry a song that glorifies the power of Our Lord?
Paula
Marc, I couldn’t have said it any better. I loved this song from the first moment I heard it, the anointing on it is amazing. I don’t think the writer above meant ill, but as he said, he may have overthought it.