Hillsong Worship - Arrival Lyrics

Arrival

Arrival Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

Hillsong Worship's song "Arrival," released on October 20, 2017, is a profound meditation on the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. The song captures the awe and wonder of this central event, presenting the arrival of God not as a distant, abstract concept, but as a tangible reality. It contemplates the paradox of the infinite Creator stepping into His own creation, framing the nativity not just as a historical event but as the pivotal moment where the divine intersects with the human.

The lyrics immediately pose questions about God's nature and His willingness to humble Himself, asking "Who is God that He would take our frame?" and contemplating the "artisan inside the paint" or the "architect inside the plan." These metaphors vividly portray God, the source and designer of all things, entering into the very reality He fashioned. The chorus serves as an immediate call to worship, urging listeners to "hail His arrival," recognizing the God of creation as "Royalty robed in the flesh He created." The central declaration, "Jesus the maker has made Himself known," underscores the revelation of God through Christ's birth, emphasizing the astonishing truth of the "infinite infant God." This echoes biblical truths found in passages like John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

Verse two continues this exploration of divine paradox, describing the eternal God, "The One who had no start and knows no end," becoming "confined in time and tense." The title "The Great I Am," a name God used to describe Himself (Exodus 3:14), is placed in the context of being held "In the mercy of a mother’s hands," highlighting the utter humility of God's arrival. This juxtaposition of God's eternal power with His vulnerability as a baby emphasizes the incredible nature of the Incarnation, reflecting the self-emptying described in Philippians 2:6-8.

The bridge expands on this theme, using powerful imagery to contrast God's cosmic dominion with His earthly vulnerability. The One "who holds the stars in the creases of His hands" is also the One "who holds my heart," establishing a deeply personal connection born from His humanity. The lyric "Like a mother once held Him" beautifully connects the vastness of creation to the intimacy of the nativity scene. It suggests that because God "embraced a baby's mind" and "embraced our finite eyes," humans are now able to "know my God" and "see our God." This knowledge and vision are further clarified by declaring Him the "monarch of the stars," "King above all kings," "ruler of my heart," and "Saviour for my sins," aligning with prophecies and titles found throughout scripture (e.g., Isaiah 9:6, Colossians 1:15-20).

Verse three and the subsequent bridge reinforce the concept of God revealing Himself, portraying God as the "holy Word... defined by name," where "The author climbed inside the page." This powerful metaphor, drawing from John 1:1 where Christ is identified as the Word, illustrates God entering His own narrative. The final section culminates in a repeated call to worship, proclaiming that "God embraced our frame / When He graced the world He made," leading to the declaration "All hail the divine in a manger." The acknowledgement that "Love embraced our fate / When the playwright took the stage" encapsulates the understanding that Christ's birth was not just an appearance but an act of profound love embracing the human condition and its destiny. The repeated calls to "All hail the arrival of our maker" and "Saviour" serve as an anthem of adoration, inviting listeners to respond with reverence and worship to the incredible truth of God's arrival among us. The song successfully captures the theological weight and the personal wonder of the Nativity, making it both informative and deeply inspirational for believers.