Worthy of Worship
This fairly young hymn, in comparison to a few 17th century hymns in The Baptist Hymnal, 1991, was written by Terry W. York and put to music by Mark Blankenship in 1988.
The hymn is not only a call to worship but answers the question of why we worship? He is worthy, yes, but what makes him worthy? It is because of who He is, what He has done, and will do in our lives as children of the Living God. This is a hymn of worship and education with use of non-inclusionary language; the call for human response to the nature of God, the doctrine the Trinity, and the text “glad songs we sing” is used as a generic term for “all creation” (Phil. 2:9 “. . . let every knee bow . . .”).
Great is the Lord and Most Worthy of Praise
The first stanza is more of a broad description of the physical type of worship we offer to God; praises, glad songs, honor, glory and bringing of all of the offerings. The scriptural reference of Psalm of Praise, Psalm 145:3 “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” God’s greatness is so unfathomable that can never run out of reasons to praise him. Psalms continues to say “The Lord is gracious and compassionate . . . The Lord is good to all . . . The Lord is faithful . . . the Lord uphold all those who fall . . . The Lord is righteous . . . The Lord is near . . .The Lord watches over all who love him.”
Every Tongue Shall Confess
The second stanza addresses the posture of the worshipers heart; reverent, fearful, love, devotion, bowing and bended knees. Philippians 2:9–11 says “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God
The third stanza comes from Isaiah 9:6 about the prophecy of the Child to be born and the names he will be called; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Poetic Meter, Devices, & Hymnic Meter
This hymn embraces the use of anaphora; repeating the word “worthy” at the beginning on successive lines and alliteration in the first two stanzas: “Worthy of worship, worthy of praise.”
It also arranges the verses in order of intensity; verse one: worthy of worship, verse two: worthy of Love, and lastly the refrain builds into the last verse: “Almighty Father, Master and Lord” which is an itemization, or listing of the names of God.
It’s hymnic meter is 9.8.10.10. with refrain and categorized as an Irregular Meter in contrast to Long Meter (8.8.8.8.) or Short Meter (6.6.8.6.).
Congregational Participation
“Worthy of Worship” is suitable for congregational singing because it is balanced with repetitive phrases and saturated with the doctrine of the Trinity. The refrain alone compacts the theme of the hymn, however the stanzas take the congregation and the individual worshiper on a journey of of reflection and response to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Below is a choral arrangement by Tom Fettke and Thomas Grassi and lyrics.
Lyrics
Stanza 1
Worthy of worship, worthy of praise,
worthy of honor and glory;
worthy of all the glad songs we can sing,
worthy of all of the offerings we bring
Stanza 2
Worthy of reverence, worthy of fear,
worthy of love and devotion;
worthy of bowing and bending of knees,
worthy of all of this and added to these…
Stanza 3
Almighty Father, Master and Lord,
King of all kings and Redeemer,
Wonderful Counselor, Comforter Friend,
Savior and Source of our life without end.
Refrain
You are worthy, Father, Creator.
You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer.
You are worthy, worthy of wonderful;
worthy of worship and praise.
