Let every language, tribe and land, (Rev 7:9)
As countless as the stars and sand, (Gen 22:17)
Now join as one to praise our King,
Let every saint bow down and sing: (Rev 7:9-11)CHORUS:
All blessing, glory, wisdom, might
Be to our God who dwells in light;
Thanksgiving, honor, pow’r to Him
And to the Lamb! Amen, amen. (Rev 7:12)At Babel, God chose to divide
The languages of those in pride. (Gen 11:4,7)
But now, in Christ, those tongues unite
Before the throne both day and night: (Rev 7:15)CHORUS
And so it is that Babel’s curse,
By Jesus’ work, has been reversed.
So let us bring all nations in (Mt 28:19)
To sing with all redeemed from sin:CHORUS
This hymn contrasts two notable moments at the bookends of Scripture: the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), and John’s vision of a great multitude “from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (Rev 7:9). In the first, man’s pride and self-will lead God to confuse their languages and thwart their plans. In the second, redeemed people from every language, clothed in white robes, all join together to praise God. The chorus is the seven-fold blessing from Rev 7:12.
The tune was taught to me by Caleb Churchill at Indiana Bible Camp in 2013 after he returned from a trip to Zimbabwe. Our brethren there use this tune to sing “Just As I Am.” The joyful African-ness of the tune really stuck with me, and it led me to reflect on our brethren in every nation praising God. What a wonderful symphony the Lord must hear from His redeemed! Josh McKinsey and I arranged some harmony to the tune on the way home from camp, and I worked on the lyrics the following year.
During this divisive time in our nation, I pray these thoughts will help us remember how the Lord seeks to tear down the divisions among us as we submit to Christ and look forward to worshipping Him together in eternity!
– Stephen