Exegeting the Hymns 17 - King Forevermore

King Forevermore
w/m Aaron Keyes and Pete James

God the uncreated One, the Author of salvation
Wrote the laws of space and time and fashioned worlds to His design
The One whom angel hosts revere hung the stars like chandeliers
Numbered every grain of sand, knows the heart of every man
He is King forever, He is King forever
He is King forevermore
 
God our fortress and our strength, the Rock on which we can depend
Matchless in His majesty, His power and authority
Unshaken by the schemes of man, never changing Great I am
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, He is faithful through it all
Crown Him King forever, crown Him King forever
Crown Him King forevermore
 
Mighty God in mortal flesh forsaken by a traitor's kiss
The curse of sin and centuries did pierce the lowly Prince of Peace
Lifted high the sinless man, crucified the spotless Lamb
Buried by the sons of man, rescued by the Father's hand
To reign as King forever, reign as King forever
Reign as King forevermore
 
King eternal God of grace, we crown You with the highest praise
Heaven shouts and saints adore, You’re holy, holy, holy Lord
What joy in everlasting life, all is love and faith is sight
Justice rolls and praises rise at the name of Jesus Christ
King of kings forever, King of kings forever
King of kings forevermore

I heard this song recently, for the first time at the “Sing” conference in Nashville and was immediately blown away. Not only does it have a powerful melody that helps lift the lyrics, but helps them stick like glue to our hearts. Very few songs these days are SO focused on the person and work of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and to me, that is the sign of a great song that will last.

God the uncreated One, the Author of salvation. Clearly, the writers want God to be the focus and want to tell of His attributes. It always makes my brain explode to think how God had no beginning. I begin to think, “Why did He wait so long”, and “wasn’t He lonely”, then I remember, He had perfect fellowship within the Trinity for eternity. Wrote the laws of space and time and fashioned worlds to His design. God is not only Creator, but Sustainer. There is not a random molecule in the universe. The One whom angel hosts revere, hung the stars like chandeliers. What a great line, and a great picture. If you’ve ever seen the vastness of the universe explained, it is mind boggling, yet, God is so big, He just hung it all there in its place. Numbered every grain of sand, knows the heart of every man. The God who knows every detail of His universe, also knows every thought we think, every temptation we face, every emotion we feel, and every choice we make… and that King has still chosen us to be His subjects. He is King forever, He is King forever. He is King forevermore.

God our fortress and our strength, the Rock on which we can depend. As we enter the 501st year since the reformation, this line hearkens back on last week’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”. Matchless in His majesty, His power and authority. Unshaken by the schemes of man, never changing, Great I am. One of the most comforting attributes of God is His immutability. God doesn’t change because God is not reacting to life’s events. Nothing surprises God. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, He is faithful through it all. Crown Him King forever, crown Him King forever. Crown Him King forevermore. We are citizens of the United States, but that is only a temporary kingdom. Our eternal allegiance is to the eternal kingdom of our King Forevermore!

Mighty God in mortal flesh, forsaken by a traitor's kiss. The curse of sin and centuries did pierce the lowly Prince of Peace. This next verse takes a turn to look at the incarnation of Christ. While it was Judas who physically betrayed Christ, our lies betray Him everyday. While it was the Roman soldiers who drove in the nails, it is our sin that made it necessary. Lifted high the sinless man, crucified the spotless Lamb. Buried by the sons of man. Not one drop of blood was shed for His own sins as Jesus could not, and did not sin. Rescued by the Father's hand to reign as King forever, reign as King forever. Reign as King forevermore. Because of the work done 2000 years ago, we have a High Priest, and King who was “raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

King eternal God of grace, we crown You with the highest praise. Heaven shouts and saints adore, You’re holy, holy, holy Lord. The song, rightly ends in praise and adoration of our risen King. What joy in everlasting life, all is love and faith is sight. Justice rolls and praises rise at the name of Jesus Christ. King of kings forever, King of kings forever. King of kings forevermore.

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