Photo by Val Vesa
This will be my third Vertical Worship review, following my favorable reviews of Spirit of the Living God and Found in You.
I have not seen any recent news regarding this band. Perhaps that is a good thing? No news is good news, as some people say.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Vertical-worship-do-what-you-want-to-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.
1. What message does the song communicate?
It is a message of Vertical Worship’s expressive desire to enter God’s Presence experientially, bolstering their relationship with Him through worship and surrendering to His will. They want God to act on His terms, not theirs.
My biggest issue is the Bridge. God’s all-consuming fire is about judgment (see section 2). Does Vertical Worship suggest that they want God to judge them for their sin? That’s likely not their intention, but that is what “All-consuming fire fall on us” means.
Score: 8/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
Almost all of it is Biblical, with the reasonable assumption that God may have His way on His timetable. As mentioned in section 1, this song errs when it calls God’s all-consuming fire to “fall on us”.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1 and 2: The personal pronoun “Your” is identified as God in the Chorus. An expression of desire to seek God (Deuteronomy 4:29, 1 Kings 22:5, 2 Chronicles 30:18-20, Psalm 14:2, Psalm 63:1, Psalm 78:34, Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9, Acts 17:27-28, and Hebrews 11:6).
Line 3: This is so because God is omnipresent (1 Kings 8:27, Psalm 139:7-12, Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Colossians 1:17, and Hebrews 4:13).
Line 4: A personal, experiential exhortation of God’s presence in the lives of Vertical Worship, much like the Disciples of Jesus post-resurrection (John 20:11-28) and during Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
Lines 5-8: Repeats lines 1-4.
[Chorus]
Lines 1 and 2: See Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6.
Line 3: Repeats line 2.
Line 4: Vertical Worship’s desire for God to act, hopefully on His terms (2 Peter 3:9).
Lines 5 and 6: Repeats line 2.
[Verse 2]
Line 1: Since God is light (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130, Matthew 4:16, John 1:1-8, John 8:12, Ephesians 5:14, James 1:17, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7, and Revelation 21:23), we can argue that to enter God’s Presence is to enter His light.
Lines 2-4: Surrender described in the Chorus, line 1, requires an open heart, allowing God to have His way with us His way.
[Bridge]
Line 1: References Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29; however, the context is incorrect.
Deuteronomy 4:21-24 is about God’s anger and judgment. Moses tells the Israelites that he will not enter the promised land because he sinned (Numbers 20:8-13 and Deuteronomy 32:51–52). He warns Israel not to commit idolatry because God is a jealous God; a “consuming fire”. Jealous not because He is envious, but because of Israel’s unfaithfulness (compare Merriam-Webster definions 1 and 2b).
Regarding Hebrews 12:29, the context begins in Verse 26, which quotes from Haggai 2:6. Notice in Hebrews 12:26 that it’s not just the earth that shakes. It is also the heaven! Haggai 2 also mentions the heaven(s) shaking. There is also the “once more” that appears in both passages, denoting a future event. Hebrews 12:27 talks about the shaking process, leaving behind the Kingdom of God that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). Then, finally, it adds God as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), which takes us back to God’s judgment in Deuteronomy.
Where else in Scripture does it talk about heaven and earth shaking, God’s judgment, and the unshakable Kingdom? The book of Revelation! Specifically, the seventh bowl of wrath (Revelation 16:17-21), Christ’s judgment on unbelievers (Revelation 19:11-21 and Revelation 20:11-15), and new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-27).
How does God’s judgment “fall on us”? It doesn’t! Unless our names are not written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15).
Finally, I’m aware that Acts 2:3 speaks of the Holy Spirit who “falls on” the disciples. His appearance was like a fire to them. However, this fire did not consume anything.
Lines 2-6: Repeats line 1.
Score: 8/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
I see no reason to think an unbeliever will conclude differently than I, except for my disagreement with Bridge. They probably won’t think there’s a problem!
Score: 7/10
4. What does this song glorify?
Though it glorifies God that we surrender to God, the aforementioned error about God’s consuming fire falling on us veils it.
Score: 8/10
Closing Comments
Vertical worship’s title Do What You Want To summarizes their entire message of allowing God sovereignty over their hearts, bringing Him glory. While this Biblical message will not be lost on the mind of unbelievers, even if they do not immediately experience it for themselves, it errs when desiring God’s consuming fire to fall on us.
I highly recommend this song for all worship services if they refrain from using Bridge and Outro.
Final Score: 8/10
Artist Info
Track: Do What You Want To (listen to the song)
Artist: Vertical worship
Album: Church Songs
Genre: Pop, Rock
Release Year: 2015
Duration: 4:14
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Updates:
05/05/2021 – Per email from Pastor Farlow, I incorrectly exegeted Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 as God’s Presence. They are about judgment. I updated all sections and lowered the song’s rating, from 10/10 to 8/10.
03/26/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement. I updated section 1 and raised its score, increasing the song’s overall score from 9.5/10 to 10/10.
Comments
CHRISTOPHER H BOREI
I think you have misinterpreted part the song…the “all-consuming fire” phrase is refering to when tongues of fire rested on (or consumed) the disciples on the day of pentacost.
Vince Wright
CHRISTOPHER,
Thank you for your comment!
First, this comes from Acts 2:3, which I already brought up and addressed in my commentary. I stated,
“Finally, I’m aware that Acts 2:3 speaks of the Holy Spirit who “falls on” the disciples. His appearance was like a fire to them. However, this fire did not consume anything.”
Second, the trouble is that Vertical Worship describes the “all-consuming fire”, which appears explicitly in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29, not in Acts 2:3.
Finally, almost all the dictionary definitions for “consume” (see https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consume) are about destruction. Definition #4 might possibly apply to Acts 2:3, albeit a weak link. It says, “to engage fully”. Your best case is that the Holy Spirit is fully engaged with these disciples that spoke in tongues. However, this is not the “all-consuming fire” that Vertical describes. If they had said “consuming fire”, then you might have a better case with this definition.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Vince,
I interpret the ‘all consuming fire” more from the standpoint that our lives are a sacrifice to God.
This is borne out in the the first words of the chorus…
We surrender all to You
Do what You want to
From gotquestions.com… https://www.gotquestions.org/fire-from-heaven.html
******** Start quote***********
But fire from heaven is not exclusively a means of judgment. On at least three occasions, God sent fire from above in order to consume a sacrifice: fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifice that David offered on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (1 Chronicles 21:26); to consume the sacrifice at the dedication of the temple, in the presence of King Solomon and the people of Israel (2 Chronicles 7:1); and to consume Elijah’s sacrifice on Mt. Carmel, in response to the prophet’s simple prayer (1 Kings 18:38).
In each sacrifice consumed by fire from heaven, God was making an important point. In David’s case, God was forgiving David’s sin in conducting a census and halting a plague in Israel. He was also choosing the place where the future temple would be built. In Solomon’s case, God was consecrating that location as the place where His name would dwell forever (2 Chronicles 7:16). The people’s reaction was to worship the Lord and say, “He is good; his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 7:3). In Elijah’s case, God was shaming the prophets of Baal, whose god sent no fire, and claiming His rightful title as Lord God of Israel. The people on Mt. Carmel “fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!’” (1 Kings 18:39).
************End Quote***************
In the case of Elijah, the “all” part of the “consuming fire” is seen (I Kings 18:38)
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Therefore when the fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice it was a sign that…
1) God had accepted that sacrifice and forgiven David (and us)
2) God would bless and sanctify HIs holy temple (Which we now are… 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
3) God was the one true God.
All these things we should want in our lives to draw people to (and back to) God.
When we sing “We surrender ALL to You, Do what You want to”, we are opening ourselves up to the “All consuming fire” of the Holy Spirit to destroy ANYTHING in our lives that God does not want there. Just because He CAN consume ALL doesn’t mean that He WILL. However, we must be willing to lose all (if it be His will) to have Him foremost in our lives.
1 Peter 1:6-8 (KJV)
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The repeated phrase in the bridge and outro “All consuming fire fall, fall on us” is a prayer for this refinement to happen within us.
Why would we willingly submit to the pain of this “fire”?
“God we long to see You move”
Vince Wright
Steve,
Thank you for your interpretation! I see what you’re saying. The “all-consuming fire” is the “refiner’s fire” of Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:2, and 1 Corinthians 3:13-15. My issue is that the term “all-consuming fire” has inherent meaning in Deuteronomy and Hebrews that points to judgment. However, “refiner’s fire” is about consuming impurities, which is consistent with the view that you presented. It more accurately describes that which Vertical Worship perhaps intended with “all-consuming fire”.
-Vince Wright