Photo by Andrea Leopardi
I finally get an opportunity to review a Michael W. Smith song. Huzzah!
Anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock for the last 30 or so years knows all about the fame that is Michael W. Smith. Starting in 1981, he started out his music career writing for other people. This includes artists such as Sandi Patty, Bill Gaither and Amy Grant. The following year, he played keyboard for Amy Grant during her Age to Age tour, eventually opening for her in his own act.
In 1983, he wrote and produced his solo album The Michael W. Smith Project, earning him a Grammy nomination. The following year, he headlined his own tours and produced Michael W. Smith 2. Catipulted by his early success, he would go on to record 20 albums, write several books (including the famous Your Place In This World), and appeared in three films: Secret Adventures: Shrug (1994), The Second Chance (2006), and 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015).
He has won 20 Dove awards, three Grammy’s, one American Music Award, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
Originally written by lyricist Lynn DeShazo, Ancient Words is the subject of this review. How will it stand against The Berean Test? Let’s find out together!
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.
1. What message does the song communicate?
This song is highly poetic, hinting and tugging at important ideas balanced with enough clarity to prevent alternative interpretations to Christianity as equally valid. It speaks of the ancient words of Christ, almost 2,000 years old from our perspective, and its transformative power on our collective lives through the cross. Our response is obedience, participating as empty vessels waiting for God to full.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
I found complete agreement between the Bible and these lyrics.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
Whose holy words? Verse 2 tells us that they are Christ’s faithful words.
They resound with God’s own heart
Which God? It is Christ, as described in Verse 2.
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
What do God’s ancient words impart? They impart life (John 14:6), hope (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 39:7, Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6), and strength to cope (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Psalm 119:28, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13).
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home
Christ promised the Holy Spirit to guide us (John 16:13 and Hebrews 3:7-11).
[Chorus]
Ancient words ever true
Yes, because Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).
Changing me and changing you
References the transformation from old to new self (Ezekiel 11:19, Romans 6:1-7, Romans 8:12-13, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:16-18, Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 3:10, and 1 Peter 2:24).
We have come with open hearts
That is, we surrender to God’s ways (Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Repeats Verse 1, line 4.
[Verse 2]
Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Refers to the discipline of imparting knowledge from generation to generation (Deuteronomy 11:18-25).
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ
God’s Word came to us through Jesus (John 1:1 and John 1:14), who was sacrificed for us (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
See lines 1 and 2.
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Repeats Verse 1, lines 3 and 4.
[Outro]
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart
Repeats Verse 1, lines 3 and 4.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Unbelievers should have little struggle interpreting this as Christian. The song is stepped in religious terminology, stemming from a more traditional (Roman Catholic?) look and feel, making it slightly more difficult for the unchurched to follow along.
Score: 8/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Michael W. Smith’s Ancient Words is pretty good. It has all the hallmarks that I look for in terms of clarity, Scriptural accuracy, and unbeliever’s interpretation, glorifying God. Though may be hard for the unchurched to follow along.
Given that this is more descriptive than worship, I would advise churches to reconsider using this one for Sunday or Saturday service. Certainly not for the seeker-sensitive church.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: Ancient Words (listen to the song)
Artist: Michael W. Smith
Album: Worship Again
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2002
Duration: 4:36
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2001 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement. I updated my score in sections 1 and 3. This did not affect the overall rating.
03/27/2020 – Upon further reflection and prayer, I decided that repetition does not impact an unbeliever’s interpretation or the lyrics’ inherent glorification of God. Therefore, I changed my score in sections 3 and 4, raising this review from 9/10 to 9.5/10.
Comments
Josiah
Hey there. I’ve read a number of your reviews, and you seem to heavily consider the “seeker-friendly” nature of a song in its selection for corporate worship. What is your reasoning? If Sunday is for the saved, why should we be considerate to the unbeliever with regards to the songs that we choose?
Vince Wright
Josiah,
Great question!
I include the information because there are a lot of churches out there that consider themselves “seeker-sensitive”. For such churches, it is not just a Sunday service for the saved, but also a safe haven for the unsaved seeking Jesus. There are some songs that may be confusing or have confusing elements to the unsaved seekers.
-Vince Wright
Herbert D Boyd
Would you comment on the final line of the chorus? “Oh, let the ancient words impart”. I am confused because it seems like an unfinished sentence. Impart what?
Vince Wright
Herbert,
Great question!
The end of Chorus is just repeating Verse 1, line 4. After Verse 1, line 4 comes additional lines that answers your question.
-Vince Wright
Leanne
No, there is no place in the song where it says what the ancient words impart. “Words of life, words of hope, give us strength, help us cope” is a new sentence, not giving us the direct object needed after the transitive verb “impart.”
Otherwise it’s a good song!
Todd M.
The one thing that this song lacks is a clear connection between Ancient Words and the Bible. Many religions have their ancient writings. Just because they are ancient doesn’t mean they are true. The Bible is true because it was give by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Neal Cruco
Todd,
Vince’s review addresses this concern. The explicit use of the name of Christ makes it quite unambiguous which “ancient words” are being referred to. I believe that is the clear connection you seek.