A reminder that during our Lenten journey, Saturdays will be somewhat different as we sit with an instrumental version of a beloved hymn or song and take time to ponder the meaning of its lyrics. Only a brief word about the history of the hymn will serve as an introduction, and then after our Scripture reading you are invited to read the lyrics slowly and prayerfully while you listen to the instrumental rendition.
Words of Reflection
The songs we’ve been sitting with on Saturdays, up until now, have been fairly old-school classic hymns. Today’s song is a bit newer—it’s not yet even 30 years old.
Chris Tomlin was serving as worship leader at a Christian conference in 1997* when he heard a speaker preach fom Revelation chapter 4, where John has a vision of twenty-four elders gathered around a heavenly throne in heaven. It’s a vision of eternal worship, which includes wondrous creatures encircling the throne shouting, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Then John records this:
“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
‘You are worthy, 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 (NRSV)
This image of eternal worship stayed with Tomlin, and late at night in his hotel room he started singing what he called a “little song—just right out of the Scripture.” At three in the morning Tomlin made his way to the preacher’s room, and finally rousing him awake, shared the song with him. There was a moment of silence before the preacher looked at Tomlin directly and proclaimed, “Chris…I think the whole world’s going to be singing that song.”
It proved to be a prophetic word, as “We Fall Down” has become one of the most popular worship songs of the past few decades. As we think about both the song and the story behind it, a couple of thoughts come to mind:
Sometimes the best hymns and songs are simple adaptations of Scripture.
As we wrap up a week thinking about humility, this song reminds us that the most humble posture we can assume is the posture of worship.
Let’s enter that posture as we ponder Scripture, listen to a beautiful instrumental rendition of the song, and sit prayerfully with the lyrics.
*You can hear Chris Tomlin tell the story of this song in this video: The Story of We Fall Down.
Scripture for Meditation:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
—Revelation 7: 9-12 (NIV)
Song: We Fall Down
Time of Contemplation:
Read through the lyrics of this song slowly and prayerfully. As it’s a short song, you have the opportunity to read them more than once, and pay attention to the movement of your soul as you pray. What thoughts or images come to mind as you pray with these words? What hopes? What needs? Spend some time in this humble posture of worship and ponder what it means for us to “cast our crowns before him, lost in wonder, love, and praise.”
We fall down
We lay our crowns
At the feet of Jesus
The greatness of mercy and love
At the feet of JesusAnd we cry holy holy holy
And we cry holy holy holy
And we cry holy holy holy is the Lamb
Chris Tomlin
© 1998 Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs