The familiar chant Worthy is the Lamb is the inspiration behind a contemporary hymn that draws on the praise language in Revelation to contemplate the glory of the agnus dei, the lamb of God.
About the composer
Michael Whitaker Smith is the son of Paul and Barbara Smith. He was born in Kenova, West Virginia on October 7, 1957. His father worked in an oil refinery and his mother was a caterer. As a young boy, he gained his love of baseball from his father. His love of music came through his local church. He sang in the choir and learned to play the piano at an early age. He was saved at age 10 and was in a bible study with a group of older friends. However, after these friends left for college, Smith felt alone and isolated, and fell prey to problems with alcohol and drugs. He felt himself on the decline in 1978 but could not seem to change. After Smith hit bottom in November of 1979, he recommitted his life to Christ.
He got a job playing keyboard with the music group Higher Ground. During this time, he was finally able to break from drugs and alcohol. He played and wrote for some great artists including Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither, and Amy Grant. (Wikipedia). I could go on and on about his achievements but we want to get to our hymn meditation. So, I’ll end with these summary facts.
Photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0
He is a multi-platinum artist. He has written 32 number-one songs. He has received 3 Grammy Awards and 45 Dove Awards. He has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold over 15 million albums.
Smith sang at the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2018.
As author of our hymn of meditation, Agnus Dei, (Worthy is the Lamb), Smith was inspired by the lyrics which come from a Latin liturgical prayer used during Mass in the Roman Catholic Church. The chant is addressed to Christ and is taken from John’s testimony about Christ in John 1.
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
The lyrics
Let’s begin by looking at and meditating on the words of this great praise hymn.
Alleluia Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia
Holy Holy Are You
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy
Holy Are You
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen
Holy Holy Are You
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy
Holy Are You
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen
The language of adoration
One of the first things we notice is the repetition of four phrases in the lyrics which form the basis of our meditation. “Lord God Almighty” occurs six (6) times. “Alleluia” occurs five (5) times. “Holy” occurs eight (8) times. And “Worthy is the Lamb” occurs eight (8) times. Rather than using John’s gospel as our scripture foundation, I propose looking at passages from the book of Revelation. This is the revelation of Jesus to John the Apostle.
Hold on! Don’t tune out just yet! I know the book of Revelation can be intimidating. I have felt that way for a number of years. However, as Jesus’ last words to us, the book is critically important. And with some perseverance, we can see the majesty of God’s Word to us through Christ’s revelation to John. So, let’s give it a try.
Specifically, we’ll look at Revelation, chapters 4 and 5.
First, let’s get a little background. John is exiled to the Greek Isle of Patmos. He is an old man (80 – 95 AD) when he writes this revelation from Jesus. The first three verses from chapter one are very instructive about this book.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation 1: 1-3
In addition to the purpose of the writing, we notice a very unique blessing . . . a blessing for reading, hearing, and keeping what is written in this book. Chapters two and three are letters from Christ to the seven churches given through John.
Now let’s get back to our hymn.
The first phrase we will look at is “Lord God Almighty.” This is a clear reference to God the Father. If we look in Revelation 4, we are given an awesome picture of God our Father on His throne.
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
Revelation 4:2
In this “Throne Room” are a number of living creatures all distinctly different and majestic. They are praising the one on the throne. This relates to the second phrase, “Alleluia” which means “Praise the Lord.” All the creatures in this scene are praising God!
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
Revelation 4: 9-11
In addition, there are four living creatures exclaiming day and night . . . never ceasing.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
Revelation 4: 8
who was and is and is to come!”
The emphasis on the holiness of God is clear since that characteristic occurs eight times in the lyrics. Understanding that He is holy . . . without blemish . . . is critical to an understanding of salvation. In Habakkuk chapter 1, we are told by the prophet that God cannot look upon sin.
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
Habakkuk 1: 13
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Since God cannot look upon sin, our sins must be removed if we are going to receive eternal life with Him in Heaven. We know from the New and Old Testaments that God made a way for us to be declared not guilty and to be cleansed from our sins. That is the “Good News” of the gospel of Jesus. He came to save the lost . . . to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. In John’s gospel we hear clearly that He is our only hope.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“
John 14: 6
John actually witnesses this great truth as he writes what he sees in Revelation chapter 5. God is seated on His throne and in His right hand is a scroll . . . the title deed to the earth . . . His plan for redemption. All the creatures around the throne are dismayed because no one can take the scroll and open it. No one can execute God’s plan. But one of the elders said, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Source: Jojojoe, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
John records that he saw a Lamb standing as though it had “been slain.” The Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of God. Then John heard the following.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
Revelation 5: 12
This phrase “Worthy is the Lamb” occurs eight times in the lyrics and emphasizes the fundamental gospel truth that no one can save us from our sins except Jesus the incarnate Son of God who was slain for our sins. We cannot save ourselves and no other method will accomplish what He alone accomplished for us! He is the only one who can accomplish God’s plan of redemption. God has crowned Him “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Michael W. Smith’s great praise hymn succinctly captures five great truths of the Bible.
1. God is on His throne and there is no other like Him.
2. He is due all our praise and honor.
3. We must be saved from our sins to be with Him.
4. Jesus Christ is the only one who can save us.
5. He alone is worthy to bring about God’s plan.
It is my prayer that meditating on this hymn will renew or convince us of these fundamental truths from the Word of God! Amen!
Hymns for Him 