Last month I talked about the song, “O Praise the Name (Anástasis)” and I was encouraged to see your response in worship the following Sunday and you sang with all your heart.
This week I’m looking at the song “1000 Tongues” by Vertical Church Band, and I’m excited to join in worshiping with you through this song again in coming weeks.
Yesterday we sang a new song together. Of course, anyone who is familiar with the great hymns of the faith immediately thinks of the hymn, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”. Well, we sang that too! Of course, the hymn inspired the modern song.
Both of these songs speak of Jesus as the focal point of our praise gathering. The “1000 tongues” are us, the church, singing the praise of the Savior. As with so many traditional hymns, the middle verses point us to the good news and how Jesus paid the price for our sin through His death. The modern song does the same in its second verse, declaring the cross as the song that we as a church should constantly sing.
The Apostle Paul focused on this in his 1st Letter to the Corinthian Church:
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles…” 1 Cor 1:18, 22-23
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:2
May we as a church always be known as one that preaches Christ crucified. Preaching that life, hope, peace, praise, and love all flow from the Cross of Christ.
I love the lyrics of both. And as a special treat, you will get a double dose of lyrics today. As with many traditional hymns that have transcended denominations, there are MANY verses and variations. So I will give you two videos of the hymn. Which one do you like better?
(if you cannot see the videos in your viewer, watch them by clicking here, here, and here.)
Verse 1
We are a sea of voices
We are an ocean of Your praise
Gathered under one name
We are a tide that’s rising
And we cannot be contained
Gathered under one name
Chorus
O for a thousand tongues to sing
The glories of our Lord God Almighty
O to sing the Savior’s praise
A triumph of His grace You are worthy
You are worthy God
Verse 2
We have found our anthem
At the cross where sin was slain
Gathered under one name
Where ev’ry chain is broken
And ev’ry sorrow swept away
Gathered under one name
Bridge
With all Heaven sing
And all earth below
One Holy King
One highest throne
Verse 1
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace
Verse 2
My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread thru all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name
Verse 3
Jesus the name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears
‘Tis life and health and peace
Verse 4
He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin
He sets the pris’ner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me