4Him - Strange Way To Save The World Lyrics
Released: 01 Jan 1990
Lyrics
I'm sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem
CHANNEL
And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel come to life
And Joseph said
Chorus
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the
World
To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth
CHANNEL
But Joseph knew the
Reason love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought
REPEAT CHORUS
Now, I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange
Way to save the world
Such a strange way, this is
Such a strange way
A strange way to save the world
A strange way to save the world
Video
Strange Way To Save The World
Meaning & Inspiration
Released in 1990 as part of their album *Joy to the World - The Ultimate Christmas Collection*, 4Him’s "Strange Way to Save the World" offers a profound reflection on the humility and unexpectedness of the Nativity. The song takes us into the mind of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, as he grapples with the monumental event unfolding around him. The narrative isn't about a grand, earthly display of power, but rather a deeply human and divinely orchestrated scene of quiet significance. Joseph, a man of simple trade, finds himself at the epicenter of God's redemptive plan. The lyrics express his bewilderment: "Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade? Why Him with all the rulers in the world? Why here inside this stable filled with hay? Why her, she's just an ordinary girl?" This questioning echoes the astonishment many must have felt, and perhaps still feel, at the divine choice to enter the world not in a palace, but in a humble stable, surrounded by shepherds rather than dignitaries.
The song's central message is a powerful testament to God's unconventional methods, which often defy human expectations. Scripture itself highlights this paradox throughout the biblical narrative. The prophet Isaiah foretold, "He grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him" (Isaiah 53:2). This prophecy directly aligns with Joseph's contemplation of Jesus' humble beginnings, contrasting the world's expectation of a conquering king with the reality of a vulnerable infant. The choice of Mary, described as "an ordinary girl," also speaks volumes. She was chosen not for earthly status, but for her purity and willingness to submit to God's will, a theme echoed in Luke 1:38 where she declares, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." The stable setting further emphasizes God’s preference for the humble, a motif present from the very beginning of creation and reiterated in the lives of many biblical figures.
The lyrical progression from Joseph's initial surprise to his eventual understanding underscores the transformative nature of faith. While he admits, "Now I'm not one to second guess, what angels have to say," his journey is one of internalizing the divine purpose. He realizes that God's love had to "reach so far," encompassing every strata of humanity, not just the powerful and the privileged. This concept of God's love extending universally is a cornerstone of Christian theology, as exemplified in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not be perish but have eternal life." The song beautifully illustrates that the "strange way" of salvation was, in fact, the most profound and inclusive way, demonstrating God's power made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The repeated phrase, "This is such a strange way to save the world," becomes not an expression of doubt, but a reverent acknowledgment of God's infinite wisdom and immeasurable grace, reminding us that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).