Maverick City Music - I Will Exalt You Lyrics

I Will Exalt You (Spontaneous) (feat. Ahjah Walls & Mav City Gospel Choir)

I Will Exalt You Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

"I Will Exalt You" by Maverick City Music featuring Ahjah Walls and Mav City Gospel Choir is a declaration of devotion and a deeply personal testimony set to a simple, powerful melody. The song opens with a clear, repetitive statement of purpose: "I will exalt You," immediately establishing a posture of worship. This initial declaration is firmly rooted in the recognition of God's identity, stating "You are my God." This sets the foundation for the outpouring of adoration that follows, emphasizing the commitment to lift God high based on who He is.

The lyrical core of the song expands on the nature of the relationship with God, using evocative descriptive phrases. He is described as "My safe refuge," "My treasured Lord," "My friend and King," "Anointed One," and "Most Holy." These titles paint a picture of God's multifaceted character – offering protection, possessing immense value, being intimately connected, exercising divine authority, and embodying ultimate purity and sanctity. The repetition of these phrases reinforces their significance and allows the worshiper to meditate on each aspect of God's being and His role in their life. The transition from "You are" to "He's" within these descriptions highlights both the direct address of worship and a shared affirmation of His identity.

A significant and moving element of the song is the spontaneous spoken word section delivered by Ahjah Walls. This personal reflection provides context and depth to the lyrical declarations. She shares her experience of arriving at the worship gathering, acknowledging her nature as an introvert seeking a hiding place and finding it in God. The testimony speaks to a profound personal relationship where God was the first to express unconditional love, filling a void not met by earthly relationships. This vulnerability underscores the truth behind the lyrics, revealing that the phrases like "hiding place" and "safe refuge" are not mere poetic expressions but lived realities. Her emphasis on worship as a constant, everyday practice, whether at home or on the street, grounds the corporate expression in individual devotion.

The song then transitions back to the corporate declaration, now imbued with the weight of the shared and personal testimonies. The question, "How great is it that the King of the universe is my friend?" encapsulates the wonder of God's accessibility and intimacy. The final return to "I will exalt You" is no longer just an opening statement but a response born out of the revealed truth of God's character and His transformative work in the worshiper's life. The added lines, "With everything I have" and "For everything that You are," elevate the act of exalting God to a total surrender and a comprehensive recognition of His worthiness. The inclusion of the line "He's mine, I belong to Him" further emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the relationship.

The themes presented in the song resonate deeply with various scriptural concepts. The call to exalt God echoes passages like Psalm 34:3, "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" The descriptions of God as a refuge and hiding place are prominent throughout the Psalms, for instance, Psalm 91:1-2 which speaks of dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and finding refuge under His wings. The idea of God as a friend is powerfully illustrated in passages like James 2:23, where Abraham is called "the friend of God," and John 15:15, where Jesus calls His disciples friends. The recognition of God as King and Anointed One connects to the broader narrative of God's sovereignty and the messianic hope found throughout the Bible. Furthermore, the testimony of experiencing God's love firsthand aligns with declarations like Romans 5:8, which highlights God's demonstration of love for us, and 1 John 4:16, affirming that God is love. The song, released on February 10, 2022, captures a moment of authentic, spontaneous worship, where biblical truths about God's identity and relationship are expressed through heartfelt lyrics and personal vulnerability, culminating in a powerful collective declaration of exaltation.