Steve Green - Delighted Lyrics
Lyrics
There in the mystery before time began God reigned in completeness and harmony. There he moved to create all we know and share it with you and with me. He made mountains and music and rainbows and time, with pleasure they flowed from his beautiful mind.
Chorus
God is delighted in all he has done, nothing can end all the joy he's begun. His children delight in him through his own son. God is delighted in all he has done.
There in the stars or a smile of a child, we glimpse how his joy fills eternity. This is his pleasure to give us himself, his glory, his heaven, his peace. And soon all confusion will fade from our sight, with wonder we'll dwell in his kingdom of light.
Chorus
Perfectly wonderful, mystical joy sings for creations great dance. God bids us to join him in all that he has delighted to give us the chance.
Chorus
Video
Delighted
Meaning & Inspiration
Steve Green's "Delighted," a cornerstone track from his 1996 album *The Letter*, is far more than just a song; it's a profound theological meditation set to music, offering an inspiring glimpse into the very heart of God. Released at a time when worship music was deeply exploring the character of God, this piece stands out for its thoughtful, expansive view of divine joy, moving beyond typical praise to consider God's inherent delight in His being, His creation, and ultimately, in His people. It doesn't merely describe God's actions but delves into the emotional core of His sovereignty, inviting the listener to share in a joy that predates time itself.
The song immediately draws us into the breathtaking mystery of God's eternal existence, long "before time began." It paints a picture of a God who "reigned in completeness and harmony," suggesting an inherent perfection and joy within the Trinity before any act of creation. This echoes the biblical truth found in passages like John 1:1-3, which describes the Word (Jesus) being with God and being God, and all things being made through Him. From this eternal, harmonious state, the lyrics describe a deliberate, joyful act of creation: "He moved to create all we know and share it with you and with me." The universe, with its "mountains and music and rainbows and time," is presented not as a laborious task, but as something that "flowed from his beautiful mind" with immense "pleasure." This resonates deeply with Genesis 1:31, where, after creating everything, God "saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good," implying a profound satisfaction and delight in His handiwork.
The recurring chorus encapsulates the core message with stunning clarity: "God is delighted in all he has done, nothing can end all the joy he's begun. His children delight in him through his own son. God is delighted in all he has done." This isn't a temporary happiness but an eternal, unassailable joy that permeates all His works. It beautifully bridges the gap from God's delight in creation to His delight in His children, and crucially, our reciprocal delight in Him "through his own son." This concept of reciprocal delight is central to the Christian walk, as expressed in Psalm 37:4, which encourages us to "delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Our ability to truly delight in God is made possible only through Christ, who reconciles us to a holy God, allowing us to enter into His joy. The prophet Zephaniah 3:17 gives us an even more intimate picture, proclaiming that the Lord "will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." This reveals a personal, active delight God has in His chosen ones.
As the song progresses, it encourages us to recognize glimpses of this divine joy in the everyday miraculous, suggesting that "there in the stars or a smile of a child, we glimpse how his joy fills eternity." This sentiment aligns with Romans 1:20, which states that God’s "invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." These aren't just random occurrences, but conduits through which God's enduring pleasure in His creation continues to manifest. The lyrics then elevate this concept to its most personal form: "This is his pleasure to give us himself, his glory, his heaven, his peace." The ultimate expression of God's delight isn't just in what He made, but in giving *Himself* to humanity, a profound truth underscored by Jesus' promise of peace in John 14:27 and the inheritance of glory mentioned in John 17:22. The promise that "soon all confusion will fade from our sight, with wonder we'll dwell in his kingdom of light" offers an eschatological hope, assuring us of a future where all suffering and misunderstanding are replaced by the clarity and joy of God's eternal presence, a truth foreshadowed in Revelation 21:4.
Finally, "Delighted" concludes by inviting us to actively participate in this divine joy. The phrase "Perfectly wonderful, mystical joy sings for creations great dance. God bids us to join him in all that he has delighted to give us the chance" is a powerful call to worship. It suggests that creation itself is a symphony of praise, and God, in His boundless generosity, extends an invitation for us to join in this cosmic celebration. We are not merely observers of God's delight but are called to become co-celebrants, finding our own joy and purpose in the One who is the source of all delight. This profound message from Steve Green reminds us that God is not a distant, stoic deity, but a joyful, creative, and intimately involved Father who finds immense pleasure in His creation and in His children, compelling us to respond with a corresponding joy and worship.