Lauren Daigle - Salt & Light Lyrics
Lyrics
Oh the beauty of the King
You make righteous those who seek
You have written and redeemed my story
Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around
Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name
Let my life be a song, revealing who You are
For You are salt and light
Oh the love that set me free
You bring hope to those in need
You have written and redeemed my story
Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around
Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name
Let my life be a song, revealing who You are
For You are salt and light
You are love's great height
You are deep and wide
A consuming fire
You are salt and light
You are love's great height
You are deep and wide
A consuming fire
Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around
Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name
Let my life be a song, revealing who You are
For You are salt and light
You are salt and light
For You are salt and light
For You are salt and light
Video
Lauren Daigle - Salt & Light (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Lauren Daigle’s "Salt & Light," released on April 14, 2015, as part of her album *How Can It Be*, offers a profound meditation on the nature of God and the believer’s purpose in reflecting His character. This song isn’t merely a collection of uplifting phrases; it’s a theological declaration wrapped in a melody, inviting deep reflection on divine beauty, redemptive love, and the call to live a life that glorifies the King. It goes straight to the heart of Christian identity, framing our existence as a response to God's transformative power, positioning Him as the source of all light and life, which we are then called to emanate.
The song immediately establishes a posture of awe, beginning with the line, "Oh the beauty of the King," a sentiment echoing countless psalms, such as Psalm 27:4, which speaks of gazing upon the Lord’s beauty in His temple. This beauty is not merely aesthetic; it's transformative, as the lyrics continue, "You make righteous those who seek." This speaks directly to the core of the Gospel message: righteousness is not earned by human effort but is a divine imputation given to those who seek Him (Romans 3:22, Philippians 3:9). The acknowledgment that "You have written and redeemed my story" is a powerful testament to God’s sovereignty and grace. It recognizes His authorship over our lives from creation, as seen in Psalm 139:16 where our days were "written in Your book before one of them came to be," and His redemptive work through Christ, fulfilling promises of a new creation (Isaiah 43:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17). This sets the stage for a life lived not in self-pursuit, but as an unfolding of God’s grand design.
The chorus then transitions into a deeply personal prayer and declaration: "Let my eyes see Your kingdom shine all around / Let my heart overflow with passion for Your name / Let my life be a song, revealing who You are." This is a yearning for spiritual perception, praying to see God’s kingdom not as a future event but as a present reality actively at work (Luke 17:21). The desire for a heart overflowing with passion for God’s name mirrors the psalmist's longing for God like a deer pants for water (Psalm 42:1). Most significantly, the petition, "Let my life be a song, revealing who You are," encapsulates the essence of Christian witness. It’s a call to live so authentically and devotedly that our very existence becomes a testimony, reflecting the divine character to a world in need, much like 1 Peter 2:9 encourages us to "declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light," or Matthew 5:16, where our good works shine before others.
The profound title and central theme, "For You are salt and light," is a powerful attribution. While believers are often called to *be* salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16, Daigle’s lyrics make a crucial theological distinction by declaring that *God* is the ultimate source and essence of these qualities. He *is* the one who preserves, purifies, and brings flavor (salt), and He *is* the illuminating truth in a dark world (light). We, as His followers, are merely channels, reflecting His inherent properties. This distinction re-centers the focus on God's omnipotence and our dependence on Him to empower us to live out the call. Our ability to be salt and light stems directly from His being salt and light.
The song reiterates themes of liberation and hope, stating, "Oh the love that set me free / You bring hope to those in need." This highlights the liberating power of God's love, freeing us from sin and despair (John 8:36, Romans 8:2). His compassion extends to all, bringing comfort and expectation to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 61:1). The declaration of "You are love’s great height / You are deep and wide / A consuming fire" further elaborates on God’s multifaceted nature. His love is immeasurable, reaching "great heights" and extending "deep and wide," transcending human comprehension (Ephesians 3:18-19, Romans 11:33). To describe Him as "A consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29, Deuteronomy 4:24) speaks not of destruction for His children, but of His awe-inspiring holiness, purity, and passion for righteousness—a presence that sanctifies and purifies all that draws near.
Ultimately, "Salt & Light" is a beautifully constructed anthem of worship and dedication. It's a prayer for spiritual clarity, a passionate desire for God's name to be glorified through a yielded life, and a recognition of His supreme attributes. The song empowers us by reminding us that our purpose—to reveal who God is—is rooted in His own perfect character. It encourages us to look beyond our own capacities and recognize that our ability to impact the world as "salt and light" comes from the divine source who is inherently both. By anchoring our identity and mission in God’s essence, Daigle’s song moves beyond simple inspiration to profound theological reflection, motivating us to live lives that genuinely echo the divine beauty, love, and light that define our King.