Sovereign Grace Music - How Low Was Our Redeemer Brought Lyrics
Lyrics
How low was our Redeemer brought, the King who held the stars
Lay helpless in a maiden’s arms and pressed against her heart
While sheep and cattle raised their voice the babe could speak no words
The ever flowing Spring of Joy had come to share our thirst
Verse 2
How low was our Redeemer brought, the Lord the worlds obeyed
Would stumble as He learned to walk upon the ground He’d made
The One the angels bowed before would kneel to wash our feet
And be at home among the poor though He owned everything
Chorus
Gloria, gloria in the highest
Gloria, gloria in the highest
Verse 3
How low was our Redeemer brought to raise us from our shame
And now the highest praise of all belongs to Jesus’ name
The Healer wounded on a tree to bear our grief and sin
The King gave up His crown so we could ever reign with Him
Video
How Low Was Our Redeemer Brought [Acoustic Version]
Meaning & Inspiration
Sovereign Grace Music's "How Low Was Our Redeemer Brought," released in 2020 as part of the album *Heaven Has Come*, is a profound exploration of the Incarnation and the astonishing humility of Christ. This song isn't merely a collection of words; it’s a theological deep-dive set to music, urging listeners to grasp the immense condescension involved in God becoming man. The narrative begins with the stark contrast between the Creator of the universe, who "held the stars," and the vulnerable infant, Jesus, resting in His mother's arms. This imagery immediately evokes the familiar Nativity scene, yet the lyrics push beyond sentimentality to highlight the deliberate helplessness of the divine. The mention of "sheep and cattle raised their voice" while the babe "could speak no words" underscores the depth of His silent submission to human frailty, a profound reversal from the omnipresent, all-powerful God. The line, "The ever flowing Spring of Joy had come to share our thirst," speaks to the core of His mission: to enter into our deepest needs and limitations, not from a position of detachment, but as one who experiences them firsthand.
The song continues this theme of humbling descent in its second verse, reminding us that the "Lord the worlds obeyed" would later "stumble as He learned to walk upon the ground He’d made." This powerfully illustrates the voluntary relinquishing of inherent divine authority for the sake of experiencing human existence in its entirety. The image of the One "the angels bowed before" kneeling to wash His disciples' feet, as recounted in John 13, is a tangible demonstration of this radical servant leadership. Furthermore, the poignant observation that He, who "owned everything," would choose to "be at home among the poor," directly reflects His earthly ministry and His identification with the marginalized, echoing passages like 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." The recurring chorus, "Gloria, gloria in the highest," serves as an anthem of praise that erupts in response to this incredible act of love, a celestial declaration celebrating the earthly humility of God.
The final verse ties the profound lowliness of Christ's descent directly to His ultimate purpose: "How low was our Redeemer brought to raise us from our shame." This is the crux of the gospel message, the exchange at the heart of Christian faith. He, the "Healer wounded on a tree," willingly bore "our grief and sin," a clear allusion to Isaiah 53:4-5, "Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed." The ultimate paradox is presented: "The King gave up His crown so we could ever reign with Him." This encapsulates the redemptive work, the invitation to share in His eternal glory after He endured the ultimate indignity and sacrifice. The song, therefore, is a powerful meditation on the Incarnation, the Atonement, and the glorious promise of our future, all stemming from the immeasurable humility of our Redeemer. It challenges us to reflect not just on what Christ endured, but on the immeasurable love that motivated such a sacrifice.