Matt Boswell & Matt Papa – Sing We the Song of Emmanuel (Gloria)

Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Matt Boswell is heavily involved with music by the Getty’s and has collaborated with other artists such as Matt Redman and Shane & Shane.  He served at several churches as the senior pastor in the late 1990’s, later founding Trails Church in Frisco, Texas in 2018.  He also released three albums and three EP’s, including:

• Enter In (2006)
• Gravity and Gladness (2010)
• Messenger Hymns, Vol. 1 – EP (2012)
• Messenger Hymns, Vol. 2 – EP (2015)
• Messenger Hymns Advent (EP, 2016)
• Messenger Hymns Live: with Boyce College Choir (EP, 2017)

He is also known as the founder of Doxology & Theology, which helps worship leaders commit to gospel-centered worship.  He also published a book by the same name in 2013.

Also, check out my reviews of His Mercy Is More and Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery.

Matt Papa is a modern hymnist who began his career in 2005.  He also works closely with the Getty’s and released 10 albums, including:

• You Are Good (2006)
• Worship Vol. 1 (2007)
• Your Kingdom Come (2008)
• Scripture Songs & Hymns 1 (2009)
• Your Kingdom Come (2009)
• Scripture Songs & Hymns 2 (2010)
• This Changes Everything (2011)
• Look & Live (2 Cities Music/The Summit Church) (2013)
• Church Songs (2016)
• Songs From The Wilderness (2019)

Also, check out my reviews of Lovingkindness and His Mercy Is More.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Matt-boswell-and-matt-papa-sing-we-the-song-of-emmanuel-gloria-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Boswell and Papa ask their audience to:

• Sing their song of Emmanuel, which means “God with us”.
• Proclaim His name and gospel to the masses.
• Welcome Him as Lord and King.
• Praise and worship Him.

In addition, they also remind us that:

• He was prophesied to come.
• He forsook His place of power to become a frail, weak human being.
• Made His mother to whom He was birthed.
• The shepherds and Magi also worshipped Him.
• God made a way for us to have hope, namely, Jesus.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song is Biblical.

[Intro]

Line 1: Part of “gloria in excelsis Deo”, Latin for “Glory in the highest to God”. These are the words the angels say in the first half of Luke 2:14.

Line 2: Repeats line 1.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: Emmanuel means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23).

Lines 2-4: As prophecied in Micah 5:2.

Line 5: References Luke 2:7.

Lines 6-8: Yes, thank you!  Join the angels to proclaim that Jesus has come (Luke 2:13).  Before we were singing (see line 1).  Now, we’re proclaiming.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: Boswell and Papa ask us to prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus.

Line 2: This is because He left His throne to become one of us (Philippians 2:6-7), yet, He would take the throne of David forever (Luke 1:33-34).

Line 3: See line 1.

Line 4: He made everything, including Mary (John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15-16), yet, humbled Himself to become her son (see line 1).

Line 5: It is wisdom that only comes from God (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Line 6: The shepherds (Luke 2:20) and Magi (Matthew 2:11) praised and worshipped Him.

Line 7: See line 1.

Line 8: Boswell and Papa invite us to follow the example of the shepherds and Magi in line 6.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: Repeats Intro, lines 1 and 2.

[Verse 3]

Line 1: This is precisely what the shepherds did in Luke 2:17-18.  Boswell and Papa ask us to follow their lead.

Line 2: Later in Jesus’ ministry, He says that He came to bring rest for the weary (Matthew 11:28-30).

Line 3: Probably a reference to Psalm 24:7-10.

Lines 4 and 5: We are asked to sing because His light drives out darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Line 6-8: Succinctly captured in Jesus’ parting words in Matthew 28:18-20.

Lines 9-12: Repeats lines 5-8.

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: Repeats Intro, lines 1 and 2.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

We can expect unbelievers to have a basic level of understanding of the Christian view of Christmas, namely, that Jesus, who is God, came to earth as one of us to save us.  The language of this song is easy to comprehend and points made in section 1 easily concluded.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the King who humbled Himself to embrace mortality and whose gospel we must share with others and bow down before Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Matt Boswell & Matt Papa’s Sing We the Song of Emmanuel (Gloria) is an excellent Christmas song.  The usual elements are there in some form or another: shepherds, Magi, manger, “Gloria”, angels, and Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.  Boswell and Papa invite us to remember why He came and to worship Him, bringing Him glory.  Those outside Christianity should easily interpret similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Sing We the Song of Emmanuel (Gloria) (listen to the song)

Artist: Matt Boswell & Matt Papa

Album: N/A

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 3:54

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