Music Speaks: Is He Worthy? – Scripture in song

Music speaks

Reading the Bible has helped me recognize the Scripture connection to songs I am hearing. Here is a look at the connection to “Is He Worthy?” sung by Chris Tomlin.

Welcome to this first music post. I’ll look at songs on a regular basis, interspersed with the other types of posts featured in this blog.

Christian songs

I enjoy listening to Christian songs on the radio. When I worked in the music department at a Christian bookstore, people would come into the store asking for a song they had heard. They didn’t know the name of the song or the artist and could only recall some words. I had fun figuring out their request based on a few random clues or phrases.

Songs speak      

Some songs are just fun to listen to and others really speak into an aspect of my life or a situation I am dealing with.

As I began reading more of the Bible, I started to recognize phrases from the Bible in the melodies I was hearing. I wonder if you have too.

Song: Is He Worthy?

When I first heard “Is He Worthy?” performed by Chris Tomlin, I was driving in my car. The music enveloped me. I also loved the call and response aspect and the incorporation of a choir.

Recognized words

The chorus drew me in. I recognized words like, “worthy, seal, and scroll,” and realized I knew them from Scripture. I didn’t know where in Scripture, but I knew they were from the Bible.

Recognizing Scripture references was cause for celebration. Years ago that wouldn’t have been the case. Not until I gathered some friends together and we read through the whole Bible, did I have this background knowledge to realize some of these lyrics were direct from Scripture.

Scripture references

I’ve heard “Is He Worthy?” several times now and recognized quite a few phrases as having Scripture references. For the sake of brevity I’ll focus on the chorus.

Chorus

The title of the song gives us the focal point of the question, who is worthy? A Scripture that focuses on this phrase is in the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. This is also reflected in the first half of the chorus.

² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” Revelation 5:2 NIV

The second half of the chorus reflects elements of this next verse:

⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5 NIV

The Lion of Judah is Jesus!

Revelation

Recognizing Scripture from the last book of the Bible was a personal victory for me. I don’t know if I ever would have read Revelation on my own if I hadn’t read it as a part of a group. Some of the fun of reading with a group is muddling through the sections of Scripture you don’t understand, together.

Continue reading

Notice both of these verses come from Revelation chapter five. As I continued reading in this chapter, I saw the answer to the question, “Who is worthy?” In addition, I recognized words of praise like “honor and glory,” and, from the bridge of the song, the words “people, priests, and reign.” These are all found in Revelation 5:9-10.

Just by reading a little further past the verse I had initially noticed, I discovered additional verses connected to the song and unfolding scene. By reading these words in the Bible, the next time I heard the song, the experience was even more moving.

Listen

I encourage you to listen to the song (link below) and read Revelation chapter five, even if you’ve never opened your Bible or read from the Book of Revelation. For me, finding these connections between Scripture and song helps me remember what’s in the Bible and to keep searching and reading the Scriptures.

This song is beautiful. Hearing words that come directly from the Bible is powerful. Allow yourself to really connect with the song, and as you do, recognize that the real heart behind this song is based in Scripture.

When you read these words in your own Bible, you, too, can experience the depth of knowing this Scripture song connection.

We’ll look at one last verse from this chapter. In verse twelve, countless angels are speaking.

¹² In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12 NIV

He is.

Here’s a link to the song if you want to give it a listen.

What aspect of this song speaks to you?