Rich Mullins - O Come All Ye Faithful Lyrics
Lyrics
"O come all ye faithful, ye lovers come sing
A cry from the mountains, a call to come worship your coming King
Come praise Him with music, and honor Him with dance
Behold He comes quickly and He carries His reward in His hands
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah
And build Him a highway on the music of praise
For the Light of the True Morning
Pierced through the darkness His golden rays
Sound loud all you trumpets, a call to all men
To come to His Temple and with solemn reverence to worship Him
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
And go to the city and sing out the song
For the walls of the Temple will be shaken
And the music will transcend the concrete and the chrome
And the minds of the children will waken
Sing 'Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men!'
Sing 'Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men!'
Sing 'Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men!'
O come all ye faithful, ye lovers come sing
A cry from the mountains, a call to come worship your coming King
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah
Hallelujah"
Video
Rich Mullins: O come all ye faithful (help needed w. lyrics!)
Meaning & Inspiration
Rich Mullins' rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful," found on the 2023 release *Deep Valley (Live)*, breathes a fresh, urgent spirit into a timeless Christmas carol, transforming it into a powerful call to worship. While the melody is familiar, Mullins imbues the lyrics with a profound spiritual depth, urging listeners not just to acknowledge the Nativity, but to actively participate in its ongoing significance. This interpretation moves beyond the static portrayal of the manger scene to highlight the dynamic, conquering nature of Christ’s arrival. The opening verses immediately set this tone, painting a picture of a joyful, uninhibited response to the King's coming, inviting all, "ye lovers," to sing and herald His presence. This echoes the prophetic pronouncements that foretold His reign, such as Isaiah 60:6, which speaks of "gold and incense... bearing praise to the Lord." The emphasis on praise, music, and dance directly connects to Old Testament worship practices, like those described in Psalm 150, which advocates for glorifying God with "the blast of the trumpet, the harp and lyre, the clanging cymbals, and the strings and pipes."
The central refrain, "Hallelujah, let every creature sing hallelujah," is not merely an exclamation of joy but a comprehensive theological statement. It calls for a universal recognition of God's sovereignty, a sentiment found throughout Scripture, from Revelation 19:6, where "the great voice of a vast crowd" proclaims, "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns," to the very essence of creation itself, as Psalm 148 details various elements of creation being called to praise the Lord. Mullins' vision of building "a highway on the music of praise" for "the Light of the True Morning" is a striking metaphor for preparing hearts and minds to receive Christ. This resonates with the preparation demanded by figures like John the Baptist, who proclaimed in Matthew 3:3, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." The imagery of light piercing darkness, referencing Christ as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12), further underscores the transformative power of His coming.
The subsequent verses expand this call to action, urging believers to go into the city and sing, signifying a public declaration of faith that extends beyond the confines of churches. The idea of the "walls of the Temple will be shaken" and music transcending "concrete and the chrome" speaks to the radical, societal impact of the Gospel, a force that cannot be contained by secular structures or materialistic pursuits. This is reminiscent of the early church's explosive growth, which, as described in Acts, challenged and eventually transformed the prevailing cultural landscape. The repeated declaration, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men!" is a direct quotation of the angelic announcement from Luke 2:14, reinforcing the foundational message of Christmas: the divine peace and favor brought by Christ. Mullins’ presentation encourages an active, engaged faith, one that sees the incarnation not as a historical event to be passively remembered, but as a present reality that calls for a radical, joyful, and universal response, reflecting the very heart of God’s redemptive plan.