Hillsong Worship - Dwelling Places Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse
Lovely are Your dwelling places
Thirsty I come after You
Jesus my joy my reward
Your love's restoring my soul
Now I'm Yours and You are mine
And from my heart a song will rise
Chorus
I love You I love You I love You
I love You I love You I love You
I love You I love You I love You
And my heart will follow wholly after You
Verse
Jesus there is none beside You
Righteous ruler of the earth
Nations will come and bow down
Name over all names
I sing You praises
And all that I can say to You is
Video
Dwelling Places - Hillsong Worship
Meaning & Inspiration
Released as part of Hillsong Worship's 1999 album, *The Secret Place (Instrumental)*, "Dwelling Places" is a powerful declaration of devotion and a profound exploration of intimate relationship with God. The song's core message centers on a deep, all-consuming love for Jesus, stemming from an understanding of His restorative power and sovereign authority. It paints a picture of a soul utterly captivated, finding its ultimate reward and source of joy in His presence, a sentiment that echoes throughout Scripture. The desire expressed in the lyrics, "Thirsty I come after You," powerfully captures the yearning for God's presence, reminiscent of Psalm 42:1, which speaks of the soul panting after God as a deer longs for water. This thirst is quenched by His love, which is described as restoring the soul, a direct nod to passages like Psalm 23:3, "He restores my soul." The declaration, "Now I'm Yours and You are mine," signifies a complete surrender and a reciprocal covenant, where the believer belongs to God, and God, in His grace, claims them as His own, mirroring the mutual affection described in Song of Solomon 2:16, "My beloved is mine, and I am his."
The repeated, emphatic chorus, "I love You, I love You, I love You," isn't merely a rote repetition but a testament to an overwhelming and singular focus of affection. This intense devotion, driving the heart to follow "wholly after You," speaks to the dedication required in the Christian walk. It calls to mind Jesus' own words in Matthew 6:24, where He states that one cannot serve two masters, implying a need for undivided allegiance. The second verse solidifies Jesus' unique position as "the only one beside You," the "righteous ruler of the earth" whose name is above all names. This theological truth resonates with Philippians 2:9-11, proclaiming that God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. The song culminates in a humble offering of praise and an acknowledgment of the inadequacy of human words to fully express the depth of this relationship, a feeling familiar to anyone who has encountered the divine. The simple, yet profound, refrain, "And all that I can say to You is," underscores the awe and reverence that fills the believer in God's magnificent presence. Ultimately, "Dwelling Places" is an invitation to experience that same intimate connection, to find our deepest satisfaction not in earthly comforts but in the sacred spaces of relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.