See How Far Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
"See How Far" by Victoria Orenze featuring Nathaniel Bassey and Dunsin Oyekan is a worship anthem centered on the theme of reflecting on God's past faithfulness and responding with adoration. The song's core message is a personal and communal acknowledgment of how God has brought the singers and listeners through various circumstances. This journey is described not just in terms of distance covered, but also in terms of the practical ways God has intervened, including providing help, showing favor, and offering rescue. The repetition of the central phrase "See how far You've brought me, Lord I've come to worship You" establishes the direct link between recognizing God's action and the resulting response of worship.
A key element in the lyrics is the use of the name "Ebenezer." This term, derived from the Old Testament account in 1 Samuel 7:12, signifies "stone of help," commemorating a place where God helped the Israelites. In the context of the song, "Ebenezer" is used as an appellation for God, highlighting Him as the One who has provided help, emphasizing His reliability and consistent support witnessed throughout the journey acknowledged by the singers. The lyrics reiterate this point by linking "Ebenezer" directly with seeing how much God has helped and how far He has brought them.
The song elaborates on the specific nature of God's intervention, moving beyond general statements to mention His favor and rescue. The rescue is vividly described as being pulled "from the miry clay, from the jaws of the enemy, from the claws of my enemy." This imagery evokes a sense of being saved from difficult, perhaps overwhelming or dangerous, situations. The recognition of this deliverance further fuels the commitment to worship stated as the reason for coming. The lyrics express gratitude with repeated declarations of "Thank You Jesus" and convey a sense of awe and surprise that God's favor was bestowed in such a way, stating "I never knew you would favor me this way."
The latter part of the song shifts focus to identifying God by various attributes and roles He plays in the lives of believers. Jesus is called "the owner," "The lifter," "the raiser," "Promoter," "Defender," and "My father." These titles collectively paint a picture of God as sovereign, empowering, elevating, protecting, and intimately relational. The inclusion of the Yoruba phrase "Eyin Le Se Yi," which translates to "You did all of this," serves as a powerful affirmation that all the help, rescue, favor, and progress are solely attributable to God's work. This communal declaration underscores the collective nature of the gratitude and worship being offered.
The themes explored in "See How Far" resonate with several scripture verses that speak of remembering God's faithfulness and help. Psalm 77:11 states, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." Psalm 40:2 echoes the sentiment of rescue from despair, saying, "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." The concept of God's unwavering help, represented by "Ebenezer," is directly linked to 1 Samuel 7:12. Furthermore, the song's emphasis on God's favor and defence aligns with passages like Psalm 124:7-8 which speaks of escape from traps and reliance on the Creator, and Lamentations 3:22-23 which highlights God's mercies being new every morning and His great faithfulness. The song serves as a contemporary expression of these timeless biblical truths about God's active presence and intervention in the lives of His people, prompting a grateful response of worship.