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A song of wonder that God who makes the oceans roar came to us in an infant's helplessness.
Worthy, our newborn King
Worthy to be adored
God in an infant's helplessness
Who makes the oceans roar
Worthy of fear and awe
You set the stars above
Worthy, O Child of Bethlehem
Worthy of all my love
How great is Your kindness, Lord
You left Your eternal throne
For such a worm as I
You came to give Your life
BRIDGE
Blessing and honor
Glory and power
Wisdom and wealth and strength
To You forever
God in a manger
Worthy of praise and thanks
© 2004 Abe & Liza Philip CCLI#4881014
A few comments on line 3 of the chorus:
Worm? Isn't that a little harsh? In case it wasn't already obvious to you, the phrase is taken directly from one the greatest hymnwriters in the English language, Isaac Watts. Here's the first verse of his hymn, "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed":
Alas! And did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
We're convinced that Isaac Watts created that last line referencing the very same metaphor in scripture (see Job 25:4-6 and Psalm 22:6). For us, the point of using the phrase is to escape the snares of both self-hatred and self-esteem. In both scenarios, the focus is on the self. But true clarity and hope comes when we turn our eyes away from ourselves and learn "God-esteem" as we look to the Lord.
Jesus said to the sinful woman who covered His feet with tears and kisses, (my paraphrase) "He who is forgiven much, loves much. He who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7). How much do you think you were forgiven? Were you just slightly off-course needing nothing more than some guidance and good advice? Or were you stone-cold dead in your sins, desperately in need of a Savior to bring you back to life? The mind-exploding, indescribable love of God in Christ can be understood only to the extent that we understand how completely undeserving we were to receive it from a flawless, infinitely holy God.
This is the true story of a great, wise, powerful and good King who, though rejected and hated by His own, left His throne of splendor not to destroy us but to reach down in great humility and unsearchable love to traitors like me guilty of high treason. Friends, may our hearts explode with wonder and gratefulness just to think of it!
So that's the purpose of the line: to take a metaphor from the Word and bring us to a place of humble adoration of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Try using it in worship, it may spark some very thoughtful conversations among the congregation!
But all that being said (although it's not our preference) if you do still prefer to replace the line during corporate worship, you have our permission to make the change. Here are the standard replacements: For sinners such as I or For such a one as I ("an one" might be more grammatically correct but sounds a bit odd).
Whatever you decide to do with that particular line, may we all as believers bow before the uncreated Triune God who sent His Son for you and loved you before the worlds began.
Worm? Isn't that a little harsh? In case it wasn't already obvious to you, the phrase is taken directly from one the greatest hymnwriters in the English language, Isaac Watts. Here's the first verse of his hymn, "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed":
Alas! And did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
We're convinced that Isaac Watts created that last line referencing the very same metaphor in scripture (see Job 25:4-6 and Psalm 22:6). For us, the point of using the phrase is to escape the snares of both self-hatred and self-esteem. In both scenarios, the focus is on the self. But true clarity and hope comes when we turn our eyes away from ourselves and learn "God-esteem" as we look to the Lord.
Jesus said to the sinful woman who covered His feet with tears and kisses, (my paraphrase) "He who is forgiven much, loves much. He who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7). How much do you think you were forgiven? Were you just slightly off-course needing nothing more than some guidance and good advice? Or were you stone-cold dead in your sins, desperately in need of a Savior to bring you back to life? The mind-exploding, indescribable love of God in Christ can be understood only to the extent that we understand how completely undeserving we were to receive it from a flawless, infinitely holy God.
This is the true story of a great, wise, powerful and good King who, though rejected and hated by His own, left His throne of splendor not to destroy us but to reach down in great humility and unsearchable love to traitors like me guilty of high treason. Friends, may our hearts explode with wonder and gratefulness just to think of it!
So that's the purpose of the line: to take a metaphor from the Word and bring us to a place of humble adoration of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Try using it in worship, it may spark some very thoughtful conversations among the congregation!
But all that being said (although it's not our preference) if you do still prefer to replace the line during corporate worship, you have our permission to make the change. Here are the standard replacements: For sinners such as I or For such a one as I ("an one" might be more grammatically correct but sounds a bit odd).
Whatever you decide to do with that particular line, may we all as believers bow before the uncreated Triune God who sent His Son for you and loved you before the worlds began.
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