Stuart Townend - Oh How Good It Is Lyrics
Lyrics
Oh how good it is when the family of God
Dwell together in spirit, in love and unity;
Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love
Are the fruits of his presence here among us.
So with one voice we'll sing to the Lord,
And with one heart we'll live out his word
Til the whole world sees the Redeemer has come,
For he dwells in the presence of his people.
Oh how good it is on this journey we share
To rejoice with the happy and weep with those who mourn.
For the weak find strength, the afflicted find grace,
When we offer the blessing of belonging.
Oh how good it is to embrace his command
To prefer one another, forgive as he forgives.
When we live as one we all share in the love
Of the Son with the Father and the Spirit.
Video
Stuart Townend - Oh How Good It is
Meaning & Inspiration
"Oh How Good It Is," featured on Stuart Townend's 2015 release, *The Best of Stuart Townend, Vol. 2 (Live)*, is a profound musical exploration of the profound blessing found in Christian unity. This isn't merely a song about communal harmony; it's a scripturally rich declaration of what it means for believers to "dwell together in spirit, in love and unity," echoing the Psalmist's ancient cry in Psalm 133:1: "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity." The lyrics powerfully articulate that this unity is not a manufactured sentiment but a direct result of the Holy Spirit's presence dwelling within the gathered community, the very "fruits of his presence here among us." This spiritual indwelling is the catalyst for the "bonds of peace, of acceptance and love" that characterize a thriving church. The song then calls for a unified response, urging believers to "with one voice...sing to the Lord, and with one heart...live out his word." This collective witness, born from internal cohesion, is presented as the means by which "the whole world sees the Redeemer has come," a tangible demonstration of God's reign among His people. Further expanding on the practical outworking of this divine connection, the song highlights the profound comfort and strength found on the shared Christian journey. It speaks to the beautiful paradox of rejoicing with those who are happy and weeping with those who mourn, demonstrating a radical empathy rooted in Christ’s own example. The weak finding strength and the afflicted finding grace are direct results of "offering the blessing of belonging," a vital antidote to isolation and despair, mirroring the encouragement found in Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The ultimate command embraced by the faithful, as articulated in the song, is to "prefer one another" and "forgive as he forgives," embodying the selfless love exemplified by Jesus himself. This mutual submission and forgiveness, living "as one," allows believers to fully partake in the divine love shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a profound participation in the Trinitarian fellowship as described in John 17:21: "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us." "Oh How Good It Is" is therefore more than a worship song; it's a theology of community, a vibrant call to embody the transformative power of God's love through genuine, Christ-centered unity.