Hillsong Worship – What a Beautiful Name

Steve Barhydt

Vince,

I have given a lot of thought over the last couple of days to the first line of the second verse, namely “You didn’t want heaven without us” and wanted to share my observations with you.

In my opinion, (and I believe that you agree at least in principle) it is not necessary for every single phrase in a song to have solid, irrefutable scriptural backing as long as that phrase does not contradict what the Bible says about a certain subject. I seek to show you that this phrase does not undermine anything in the Word of God.

I believe that it is important to define the word “want” because the word has multiple meanings in English. From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/want definitions 1 and 2 states

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WANT verb
1 : to fail to possess especially in customary or required amount : LACK
2 a : to have a strong desire for
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The prevalent interpretation of the word “want” by the naysayers and yourself is the first definition.
In your words “the wording makes it man-centered, that heaven simply cannot exist without people in it, or that God was lonely and NEEDED people to quench His boredom.” (emphasis mine)

I believe that the offending line of this song can be interpreted in two ways depending on where you put the emphasis…

1) “You didn’t want HEAVEN without us” Here the emphasis is on the word Heaven and does give the impression that Heaven needed us to be complete. God, Himself, lacked something because we were not with Him. God, somehow, “fails to possess” a critical element of His existence. This is an application of the first definition of “want”. (Namely a “need”.)

2) “You didn’t want Heaven without US”. Here the emphasis is on US. Heaven is not lacking, we are! Something in us is missing (or, more correctly, something in us is present) for us to be able go to Heaven. This is an application of the second definition of “want.” God’s “strong desire” was that we would be in Heaven with Him but a solution must be found for this to happen.

I will readily admit that the second interpretation (which I believe to be the correct interpretation) is “man-centered.” And I’m okay with that for the following reasons…

There is, in the Bible, two different types of “man-centeredness”. One leads to destruction and the other to eternal life.
1) Humanistic man-centeredness in which man puts himself at the center of his own plans…

a. Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4:28-37
b. Arrogant planning James 4:13-16

2) God-planned man-centeredness in which God puts mankind at the center of His plans…

a. In Creation – Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:7 All of the rest of creation was spoken into existence. Man was formed (i.e. molded) Man was, and is, the pinnacle of Creation by God’s design not ours.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3335/kjv/wlc/0-1/

יָצַר yâtsar, yaw-tsar’; probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution):—× earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.

b. In Salvation – Romans 5:6-11 (KJV) (emphasis mine)
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward US, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for US.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

c. In Eternity – Ephesians 2:4-7 (emphasis mine)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved US,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened US together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised US up together, and made US sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward US through Christ Jesus.

It’s very clear from these and many other verses that God put us at the center of His plans. This is not pride or conceit but rather follows a concept laid out in Romans 12:3…

From https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/romans/romans-12.cfm?a=1058003
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B. Living out the spiritual gifts God has given.
1. (Romans 12:3) A warning to live in humility.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

a. To everyone among you: Paul will soon speak about how we should exercise spiritual gifts in the body of Christ, but a warning about humility is in order, given the inordinate pride that often arises from those who regard themselves as spiritually gifted.

i. We should remember that spiritual giftedness does not equal spiritual maturity. Just because a person has substantial spiritual gifts does not mean they are necessarily spiritually mature or a worthy example.

b. Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: Paul does not tell the believer to take an attitude that finds pleasure in humiliation or degradation. Rather, the idea is that we should see the truth about ourselves and live in light of it. When we see ourselves as we really are, it is impossible to be given over to pride.

c. God has dealt to each one a measure of faith: This means that we should see even our saving faith as a gift from God, and that we have no basis for pride or a superior opinion of ourselves.Now let’s look at the rest of verse 2 to see if the context tells us which interpretation of “want” is truly supported.
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I want to pull out the phrase “When we see ourselves as we really are, it is impossible to be given over to pride.” This is true Christian humility not some self-degrading “worm” theology.

Now let’s look at the rest of verse 2 to see if the context tells us which interpretation of “want” is truly supported.

Second line “So Jesus You brought Heaven down”

Despite the criticism of some, this line is 100 percent Biblical.

For Jesus to have “brought Heaven down” it prompts a couple of questions…

1) “What makes Heaven Heaven?.” Is it the angels? It will be awesome to finally see them but no. Is it being reunited our departed loved ones who died in the faith? Again, wonderful but no.

This question is answered in Rev 21 among other scriptures…

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

“And God Himself shall be with them.” Heaven is where the manifest presence of God is. Notice that I said the “manifest presence” not just the presence of God. God is omnipresent and, as such, is everywhere. However, there are times and places where God is there in a palpable sense. Exodus 33:18-23 shows us that God has a body, it’s just not like ours.

So if Heaven is where God is manifest (and the Scripture shows that it is) , it’s not at all hard to understand how “Jesus brought Heaven down.”

The first chapter of the Gospel according to John states (John 1:1-5,14-18)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

The above verses plainly teach that Jesus was God from before the beginning and, when He came to earth in the Incarnation, God now walked among us.

The Apostle Paul in Col 1:15-20

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

The word used for “image” here is amazing. From Vines expository Dictionary of New Testament words https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1504/kjv/tr/0-1/
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(d) of Christ in relation to God, 2Cr 4:4, “the image of God,” i.e., essentially and absolutely the perfect expression and representation of the Archetype, God the Father; in Col 1:15, “the image of the invisible God” gives the additional thought suggested by the word “invisible,” that Christ is the visible representation and manifestation of God to created beings; the likeness expressed in this manifestation is involved in the essential relations in the Godhead, and is therefore unique and perfect; “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,” Jhn 14:9. “The epithet “invisible.”… must not be confined to the apprehension of the bodily senses, but will include the cognizance of the inward eye also” (Lightfoot).
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The first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew states in verse 23 (Quoting Isaiah 7:14)

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

“God with us” Wow! This was the first time since the Garden of Eden that, for an extended period of time, God Himself physically walked on the earth. Heaven was still above us. God the Father was still on the throne. However, the manifest Presence of God in the form of Jesus Christ was here. And, as such, Heaven had been “brought down.”

If that don’t get you “lit”, your pilot light’s out 🙂

2) “Why did Jesus bring Heaven down?”

The clear teaching of Paul in Galatians 4:4-5

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

He came “to redeem them that were under the law” (that’s all of us folks) “that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (that can be all of us, folks) We were at the center of His plan.

Again, from the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15-17

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[ Amen.

The bottom line truth is that “We could not go up until He came down.”

Line 3 of the second verse is “My sin was great Your love was greater”

These eight words demolish the claim that the first line of this verse is humanistically man-centered and, at the same time, demolish the claim that the first line of this verse portrays God as “lonely” or needing something from us.

“My sin was great” There is no pride in this. No boasting. No “God and / or Heaven needs me” Just abject spiritual poverty. Notice too that the focus has changed from “us” in the first line to “my” in this line. This is intensely personal and shows that everything that was lacking in me was because of me and “my sin.”

“Your love was greater” The answer to my insufficiency was one thing that God abounds in, “LOVE”
Psa 103:8-11 (ESV)

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE
9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

It is because of this great steadfast love that He “didn’t want Heaven without us.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It was not, is not, and never can be a “want” as in a “lack” but has always been a “want” as in a “desire.”

1 Timothy 2:3-6

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Line 4 sums the total thought up nicely “What could separate us now?” The answer is, of course, “Nothing.” (Barring, as you have correctly stated, “willful rebellion”)

In summary (yeah, I know, “about time” 😊).

It is always important to remember that most songs are poetic in nature, in that the songwriter will use linguistic devices (such as metaphors, hyperbole, similes, alliteration etc.) to portray the thought that they are trying to make.

One thing to consider when looking at why a lyric is written the way that it was is another “tool” of song writing (or poetry in general) called “meter”.

From https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-meter-learn-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-meter-in-poetry-with-examples
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Meter is the basic rhythmic structure of a line within a work of poetry. Meter consists of two components:
1. The number of syllables
2. A pattern of emphasis on those syllables
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As a songwriter myself of about 30 songs (a very long time ago), for me, meter was one of the more difficult things to get right. Rhyming was relatively easy (I used to read the dictionary as a kid so I have a good vocabulary.) Rhythm was tougher.

If you have too many or not enough syllables in a line of music, it becomes increasingly harder to sign.

Many times a line is written the way that it is because that what fits into the meter of the verse (flowing both musically and in the same line of thought.) The songwriter, knowing what he has in mind for the whole verse / song, doesn’t stress out over an interpretation other than the one that he is presenting.

Now this is no excuse for bad theology in a song but, as I said at the opening of this lengthy post in regards to Biblical backing for every phrase being unnecessary; as long as the phrase doesn’t contradict what the Bible says about a certain subject we should figure out the context to see if our interpretation “fits”

Vince, you yourself said “I did not find a single line that is not biblically or theologically sound.”

As I have said many times in my comments, a song should not be penalized for how it MIGHT be taken especially if it must be taken out of context to arrive at a false conclusion.

The Bible itself has been misinterpreted (innocently and maliciously) since it was written. Through proper hermeneutics (exegesis [pulling out of a verse the meaning, this is a good practice] as opposed to eisegesis [reading into a verse a meaning, this is a very bad practice and leads to false doctrine]) we “weed out” faulty interpretations.

The same interpretive tools should be used on lyrics to determine their Biblical accuracy. Vince, I don’t mean this to be a criticism of you in particular. You normally do a fantastic job of this. In this song, however, I think that you have a bit of “tunnel vision” caused by going line for line and, thereby, losing the overall context of the second verse. This “tunnel vision” was absent from your original 10/10 review and was later adopted by agreeing with the bad interpretation of other commentors. This caused you to look at the first line of the second verse in isolation.

The “Lonely God” scenario is valid only if one interprets the word “want” as “need”. I believe that I have shown an equally valid, but more linguistically and Biblically plausible interpretation of “want” meaning “desire”

I do not believe that even the most Biblically ignorant unbeliever would read the second verse, in its entirety, and come away saying “Wow, God needs me to make Heaven complete.” The phrase “my sin was great”, in my opinion, prohibits this interpretation. Especially when coupled with “Your love was greater” which puts the focus back on God! There is nothing in this that even hints at God lacking something. It has to be “read into” the lyric.

We are of great importance to God (Scripture bears this out over and over again) but the glory is not ours but His because it was His plan and His love that bestowed that importance on us.

I apologize for the length of this post (long-winded even for me 😊). I truly believe that this is a 10/10 great song that should be sung in church and doesn’t deserve the negativity that has been read into this one line.