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Among the many elements and forms of worship in the traditions of christendom are a number of call-and-response practices. From creeds to pledges to responsive readings to age-old corporate answers, it is a common practice.

And many of the hymns of faith over time have employed such a form. If I were to stand in front of most congregations and sing out the first line of a familiar hymn, “What can wash away my sin?” It is likely the congregation (if it has been there for more than 2 or 3 decades) will sing the answer, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

We may not always be conscious of it, but for people who have been in church most of their lives, it’s not unfamiliar. But now and then one of these worshipful moments comes along and just hits in a particularly impactful way.

In his captivating worship song, “Is He Worthy,” Andrew Peterson (yep, that guy again… his stuff just resonates with me) engages us in a call and response with simple, straightforward answers to plainspoken questions.

In the first stanza, he asks:

Do you feel the world is broken?
Do you feel the shadows deepen?
But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from breaking through?
Do you wish that you could see it all made new?

The answer for us a gathering of worshipers (literally or virtually) is simple, “We do.”

The second verse brings more questions:

Is all creation groaning?
Is a new creation coming?
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst?
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this?

Once again it’s a simple and clear corporate answer, “It is.”

I won’t go through the entire song, but you get the idea. It’s not complicated. But it is profoundly engaging and deeply moving.

It draws our attention along a path from an honest acknowledgment of our circumstances to the confidence we have in the promises of God and the character of our Savior—that He is surely worthy of all of the blessing and honor and glory and praise.

And just in case you’ve forgotten or are not aware, this passage from the “yet to come” section of our Bibles is a good one to have on your mind when you watch and listen to the song:

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5.11-12

“Is He Worthy?” By Andrew Peterson

Father, fill us today with a deep and abiding sense of Your presence. And let us be ever mindful of Your promises to make all things new!

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If you enjoy these musical devotional posts, let me know in the comments and feel free to suggest a song that speaks to you in a significant way.