Exegeting the Hymns #63 - Everlasting God

Everlasting God
w/m - Brenton Brown, Ken Riley

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, you won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

This one is a very simple verse and chorus. Life is full of highs and lows, mountains and valleys, struggles and rest, questions and answers. The message of this song is one of encouragement as we struggle through the “dark night of the soul” waiting for the light on the other side.

Clearly, the song is derived from Isaiah 40:28-31, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that God will give us strength and hold up the righteous with His hand, and so we are to “Be strong, and let our heart take courage, all those who wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24).

Our God, You reign forever, Our hope, our strong deliverer. The Bible is replete with statements that God will reign forever (Exodus 15:18, Psalm 146:10, Lamentations 5:19, Revelation 11:15). God is also the one who delivers us in His timing, in His plan (Psalm 18:2, Psalm 56:13, Psalm 144:2, Jeremiah 14:22, 2 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 10:23).

You are the everlasting God. You do not faint, you won't grow weary. You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles. The very best congregational songs are the ones taken directly from the Word of God. I can craft some nice poetry, but it will never be on the level of that which the Holy Spirit inspired. There is comfort in the words we speak to those who are weak, but our words will never offer anything with as much value as the comforting words of the Everlasting God! ​

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