Darlene Zschech - Hear Our Praises Lyrics
Lyrics
may our homes be filled with dancing
may our streets be filled with joy.
may injustice bow to Jesus
as the people turn to pray.
from the mountains to the valleys
hear our praises rise to You,
from the heavens to the nations
hear our singing fill the air.
may Your light shine in the darkness
as we walk before the cross
may Your glory fill the whole earth
as the water o'er seas.
from the mountains to the valleys
hear our praises rise to You,
from the heavens to the nations
hear our singing fill the air.
hallelujah.hallelujah
hallelujah, hallelujah...
hallelujah, hallelujah
hallelujah, hallelujah...from the mountains to the valleys
hear our praises rise to You,
from the heavens to the nations
hear our singing fill the air.
Video
Hear Our Praises - HILLSONG [Shout to the Lord 2000]
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on May 26, 2009, as part of the *Shout to the Lord 2000* album, Darlene Zschech's "Hear Our Praises" stands as a potent declaration of faith and hope, resonating with an expansive vision of God's sovereignty and transformative power. The song’s genesis is rooted in a profound desire to see the living presence of God manifest in every sphere of life, a sentiment echoed throughout scripture. The lyrical core expresses a yearning for a world where homes are filled with the vibrant expression of joy, and streets echo with gladness, mirroring the prophetic visions of restoration and peace found in Isaiah 61:3, where the Lord promises to bestow "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Furthermore, the prayer for injustice to yield to Jesus as people turn to Him in supplication is a direct echo of Christ's prayer in Matthew 6:10, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," underscoring the song's ambitious scope of seeing divine order established globally.
The expansive scope of "Hear Our Praises" is evident in its sweeping geographical and spiritual reach. The recurring refrain, "from the mountains to the valleys... from the heavens to the nations," paints a picture of a praise that transcends physical boundaries and ascends to the very throne of God. This imagery aligns with Psalm 148, which calls upon all creation, from the highest heavens to the deepest seas, to praise the Lord. The emphasis on light overcoming darkness, as the faithful walk before the cross, is a powerful evocation of John 1:5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." The song’s desire for God’s glory to fill the earth, likened to water covering the seas, speaks to a deep theological yearning for the omnipresence and overwhelming power of God’s presence to saturate every aspect of existence, a concept fundamental to passages like Habakkuk 2:14, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." The repeated "Hallelujah" serves not merely as an exclamation, but as a profound acknowledgment of God's worthiness, a biblical term signifying "praise be to Yahweh," a continuous anthem of adoration that acknowledges God's eternal reign and redemptive work. This song, therefore, is not just a musical piece; it is a fervent prayer set to melody, a theological declaration, and an inspiring call to witness and participate in God’s unfolding plan for restoration and redemption across the entire earth.