Kim Hill - Shake The Heavens Lyrics
Lyrics
Not to a mountain
Not to a temple
Made of wood and stone
Not to the angels
To the saints assembled
To God on His righteous throne
Not just a trembling of my flesh
But in all consuming fire I rest
You will shake the heavens
As You shake the earth
When the fires fall by Your grace I'll stand
I'll join with the angels
As the elders fall
We all cry holy, we all cry holy
We all cry holy, we all cry holy
Not to a system
Not just religion
Empty words and rules
But to true salvation
Holy mediation
The sprinkled blood
Of the one who rules
Not just a trembling of my flesh
But in all consuming fire I rest
Video
Shake The Heavens
Meaning & Inspiration
Kim Hill's "Shake The Heavens," released in 1998 as part of her album *Arms of Mercy*, is a powerful declaration of faith that transcends mere religious observance, pointing instead to a profound and consuming encounter with the divine. The song rejects superficial expressions of devotion, whether seeking solace in physical structures like mountains or temples, or placing ultimate trust in earthly hierarchies and assemblies of saints. Instead, Hill directs the listener's gaze towards God on His throne, emphasizing a transformative experience that goes beyond fleeting emotional responses – "not just a trembling of my flesh," but finding rest in an "all consuming fire." This imagery strongly echoes the divine presence described in scripture, such as the pillar of fire that led the Israelites (Exodus 13:21-22) or the intense purification of the refiner's fire, which hones and perfects (Malachi 3:2-3; 1 Peter 1:7). The core message is that true worship and salvation are not found in man-made systems or empty religious rituals, but in the finished work of Christ – "true salvation, holy mediation, the sprinkled blood." This directly references the sacrifice of Jesus, the Passover lamb whose blood protected the Israelites from judgment (Exodus 12:13) and whose blood ultimately atones for our sins (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7). The song culminates in a vision of eschatological worship, where the heavens themselves are shaken as God demonstrates His power, aligning with prophetic visions of God's mighty intervention in the world, as seen in passages like Isaiah 64:1 where the prophet cries, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!" Hill's assertion, "by Your grace I'll stand," reflects the dependence on God's unmerited favor for enduring His glorious presence, a theme woven throughout the New Testament (Ephesians 2:8-9). The unified cry of "holy, holy, holy" echoes the seraphim's unceasing praise before God's throne in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8, signifying a universal recognition of God's perfect holiness. Ultimately, "Shake The Heavens" inspires a deep yearning for an authentic, all-encompassing relationship with God, one that purifies, transforms, and stands firm even amidst divine power, reminding us that our standing is secured by His grace and the efficacy of Christ's atoning sacrifice.