Cory Asbury - When I Consider Lyrics
Lyrics
Intro:
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name
Verse:
In the beginning You created all of the heavens and the earth
Set all Your glory above the heavens by the power of Your worth
Out of the mouths of babes and infants You have ordained Your strength
Made me to have all the dominion, You put all things under my feet
Chorus 1:
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name
Bridge:
And what does it sound like when the God of glory thunders
We've only heard a whisper, but He thunders, He thunders
Chorus 2:
When I consider Your heavens, the works of Your fingers
The moon and the stars which You've ordained
Who am I, who am I?
Video
Reason To Praise - Cory Asbury feat. Naomi Raine
Meaning & Inspiration
Cory Asbury's "When I Consider," released on July 10, 2008, as part of his album *Holy*, is a profound contemplation on the grandeur of God and the humility it inspires within the believer. The song doesn't just offer lyrics; it invites listeners into a space of worship, drawing deeply from the wellspring of Scripture to articulate a God who is both immeasurably powerful and intimately involved in creation. From its opening invocation, "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name," the song immediately establishes a tone of awe, echoing the sentiment found in Psalm 8:1, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" This initial declaration sets the stage for the unfolding meditation.
The narrative of creation, powerfully invoked in the verses, calls to mind Genesis 1, where God, with divine might, spoke the cosmos into existence. The lyrics speak of God's glory set above the heavens by His "worth," a subtle yet significant phrasing that hints at His inherent value and perfection, a concept explored in Romans 3:23 where all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but God's own glory is unwavering and supreme. Furthermore, the notion of strength being ordained from the mouths of babes and infants directly references Psalm 8:2, which describes God ordaining praise from the mouths of children, often interpreted as a testament to God’s ability to humble the proud and exalt the meek through even the most unlikely of vessels. The verse's declaration of having dominion and all things placed under one's feet is a striking reminder of the imago Dei, the image of God in which humanity was created, as detailed in Genesis 1:26-28, granting dominion over the earth, though this dominion is ultimately fulfilled through Christ, who is now sovereign over all creation, as stated in Hebrews 2:8.
The bridge offers a captivating contrast, posing the question of what the voice of the "God of glory thunders" sounds like, while acknowledging that humanity has only heard a whisper. This elegantly captures the unfathomable power of God that far exceeds human comprehension. It evokes passages like Exodus 19:16 and 19, where God's voice is described as thunder, and Isaiah 40:26, which urges us to look up and see who created these celestial bodies, emphasizing His immense power and the vastness of His creation. The final chorus brings this reflection to a personal crescendo: "When I consider Your heavens, the works of Your fingers, The moon and the stars which You've ordained, Who am I, who am I?" This is a direct echo of Psalm 8:3-4, a classic expression of wonder at the universe and our place within it. It's a profound moment of self-awareness that arises not from insecurity, but from recognizing one's own insignificance in the face of such divine majesty, yet simultaneously feeling the profound love and purpose God has bestowed. The song thus becomes an anthem for recognizing God's immeasurable greatness, prompting a humble yet secure understanding of our identity as His creation, loved and appointed.