This is a liturgical song written for my church, Lakewood Baptist Church, during the season of Advent. In anticipation of Christ's arrival, we intentionally spent this season contemplating the four royal titles that the prophet Isaiah used to poetically describe the coming King: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Each verse of this song is purposefully simplistic to help the singer or listener contemplate its depth and meaning. They each focus on one of the messianic titles, and they sort of continue to echo in the background throughout the song (like a song in the round, e.g. Row Row Row Your Boat). Each week of Advent, my church's worship team would introduce one verse of the song and progressively add the previous week's verse to the song—e.g. Week One = Verse 1; Week Two = Verse 1 and Verse 2, etc.
Finally, the last part of the song is the Chorus, and it centers in on the mystery of the incarnation—i.e. God in flesh revealed in and through Jesus Christ. The scriptures use a particular title for this mystery: Emmanuel—meaning: God with us. The Gospel writer John poetically captures this mystery in the beginning of his Gospel account by writing:
"The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us" (John 1:9-10, 18).
lyrics
O the wonder
Of the mystery of Christ
O the wonder
God, in you we live and breathe
Mighty King
Strength is in your name
Mighty King
You are Lord of all
Everlasting Father
May your sons and daughters be love
Everlasting Father
You're always near
Prince of Peace
Show us mercy
Prince of Peace
Light of nations
Now we see the face of God
Jesus Christ, Our Savior
God of heaven here on earth
Praise the King, Emmanuel
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