Lyrics
Verse 1
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt
Chorus
Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of glory
Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings
Verse 2
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died
Verse 3
And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored
Verse 4
And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint
By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The lyrics tell the story of Jesus in order, from waiting in darkness to the beginning of the church. The first verse describes people "without hope without light" until God came "running" with "mercy in Your eyes," and the next stanza turns to the virgin birth, moving "from a throne of endless glory / to a cradle in the dirt."
The chorus is a Trinitarian doxology: "Praise the Father, praise the Son, praise the Spirit three in one," ending with praise "to the King of Kings." The later verses cover the cross, the resurrection when the stone was "moved for good," the dead rising from their tombs, and the Spirit lighting the flame at the church's birth. The last stanza moves to personal testimony: "In His freedom I am free."
The movement from heavenly glory to humble birth and death is close to Philippians 2:6-8, the title King of Kings appears in Revelation 19:16, and the Spirit lighting the flame recalls Acts 2:1-4. These are echoes rather than direct quotations.
Related Scripture
- Philippians 2:6-8 Christ leaves equality with God to take human form and die on a cross, matching the movement from a throne of glory to a cradle and the cross.
- Revelation 19:16 Names Jesus King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the title of the song.
- Acts 2:1-4 The Spirit comes at Pentecost like tongues of fire, related to "the Spirit lit the flame."