Worthy

Photo by Alex Shute

by Vince Wright | October 26, 2022 | 11:59 am

Contemporary Christian artist Phil Wickham was 18 years old when he began his career in 2002.  Since then, he released ten albums, including:

  • Give You My World (2003)
  • Phil Wickham (2006)
  • Cannons (2007)
  • Heaven & Earth (2009)
  • Response (2011)
  • The Ascension (2013)
  • Children of God (2016)
  • Living Hope (2018)
  • Christmas (2019)
  • Hymn of Heaven (2021)
  • Hymn of Heaven (Acoustic Sessions) (2022)

He received a Dove award in 2019 for Worship Recorded Song of the Year for his song Living Hope.

Also, check out my other Phil Wickham reviews.

Side Note: I will review the studio version, not the live version.

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?

Despite his uncertainty that Christ will transform Wickham and keeps His promises, Wickham chooses to worship the Son of God.  Chiefly, because Jesus, the Ruler whose name is above all others, deserves it.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All lyrics agree with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I’m gonna sing
Till my heart starts changing
Oh I’m gonna worship
Till I mean every word

Wickham praises God until he starts growing in holiness, causing God to increase and Wickham to decrease (John 3:30).

While this could potentially mean that Wickham will cease to praise God upon said change, he also mentions in Bridge that he will not stop singing, quenching my concern.  Also, it reads more like doubt than plans to cease.

‘Cause the way I feel
And the fear I’m facing
Doesn’t change who You are
Or what You deserve

Wickham’s circumstances do not change who God is (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, and James 1:17).  It also doesn’t alter God’s worthiness of…wait, what is God worthy of?  Wickham answers this in Chorus.

[Chorus]

I give You my worship
You still deserve it
You’re worthy

God is worthy of Wickham’s praise (1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11).

You’re worthy
You’re worthy of my song

Repeats/essentially repeats line 3.

I’ll pour out Your praises
In blessing and breaking

Wickham worships God regardless of his circumstances (Romans 14:8, Philippians 1:20, Philippians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, and 1 Thessalonians 5:10).

You’re worthy
You’re worthy
You’re worthy of my song
Yes You are
Yes You are Jesus
You’re worthy

Repeats/essentially repeats line 3 while specifying Jesus as the One who is worthy of worship (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 14:33, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 28:8-9, Matthew 28:16-17, Luke 24:50-53, John 12:13, and John 20:28).

[Verse 2]

I’m gonna live
Like my King is risen
Gonna preach to my soul
That You’ve already won
And even though I can’t see it
I’m gonna keep believing
That every promise You’ve made
Is as good as done

Wickham lives as though Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).  He uses the word “like” intentionally to express doubt over this belief, confirmed by the statement “even though I can’t see it”.  He believes with his mind that God keeps all His promises (Numbers 23:19, Joshua 21:45, Joshua 23:14, 1 Kings 8:56, Romans 4:21, 2 Corinthians 1:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Hebrews 10:23, and 2 Peter 3:9), hoping that worship will help him overcome unbelief in his heart (Mark 9:24).

It also describes Jesus as a King (Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 1:32-33, John 12:15, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16).

[Bridge]

When I sat by that hospital bed
You were worthy
And she could barely lift her head
You were worthy
After all those tears were shed
You were worthy
I’ll never stop singing Your praise
I’ll never stop singing Your praise
In the blessing and the pain
You are worthy
Whether you say yes or no or wait
You are worthy
Through it all I choose to say
You are worthy

Wickham recounts a time when a female, perhaps his wife or daughter, experiences unimaginable suffering.  Rather than running from God, Wickham leans in, praising Him because He is worthy.  See Chorus, lines 6 and 7.  Also, contains repeated past and present phrases that essentially repeats Chorus, line 3.

I’ll never stop singing Your praise
No I’ll never stop singing Your praise

Repeats/essentially repeats line 7.

When I finally see Your face
I’ll cry worthy
And when You wipe these tears away
I’ll cry worthy

Combines Revelation 22:4 with Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 7:17, and Revelation 21:4.  Also, Wickham uses future tense to essentially repeat Chorus, line 3.  This completes the entire timeline.  God is worthy of worship in the past, present, and future.

Above every other name

Jesus’ title, according to Philippians 2:9.

You are worthy

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 3.

I’ll never stop singing Your praise
No I’ll never stop singing Your praise
I’ll never stop singing Your praise
I’ll never stop singing Your praise

Repeats/essentially repeats line 7.

[Outro]

You’re worthy
You are worthy

Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus, line 3.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will know it’s Christian because it mentions Jesus, whom Wickham unceasingly worships.  They will likely pick up on Wickham’s subtle hints of doubt, which he plans to overcome by worshipping Christ.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the object of Wickham’s worship, who deserves all praise.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Phil Wickham’s Worthy of My Song is Biblical.  Jesus, whose name is above all others and who rules the world, is worthy of Wickham’s song.  Wickham will worship despite doubts.  This glorifies God.   Unbelievers should have little to no issues interpreting similarly.

Though not my personal favorite, this song is appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Worthy of My Song (listen to the song)

Artist: Phil Wickham

Album: N/A

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 6:12

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2022 Phil Wickham Music (BMI) Simply Global Songs (BMI) Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Comments

Terrence Kaal

I do agree this as a worship song to praise Jesus and give Him all glory. But my question is, “you are worthy of my song” ofcourse He is. But in my mind this sounds a bit like we are so special that God deserves our praises. Instead of that God deserves our praises because He is special. Can someone reply with a explanation if I see it to much black and white or that i have a point here. God bless you all brothers and sister.
-Terrence

Jan 15.2023 | 03:28 am

    Phillip

    “Worthy of my song” is another way of saying God is worthy of our praise as in Psalm 145 and elsewhere in the Bible.

    Feb 09.2023 | 07:09 am

    Cathy Martin

    I agree with your description that “worthy of my song” sounds as if we are so special that God deserves our praise. I suspect it is the English language that is tripping me up, because the overall message of the song encourages me to align myself to worship a very worthy God. In other songs, I also struggle with the phrase “God is enough for me” which sounds like He luckily can care for me but it was a close call, again probably a result of the interpretation of the word “enough.” Thanks for putting words to my feelings about “worthy of my song.”

    Mar 05.2023 | 10:11 am

George

Can you do You Cannot Be Stopped by Phil Wickham and Chris Quilala

Apr 09.2023 | 12:31 pm

    Vince Wright

    George,

    Great question!

    Unfortunately, I don’t accept song requests while the song submission form is down. You can submit it at https://www.thebereantest.com/submit-song-for-review on or around April 23rd. Usually, I release it the day before around 9-10 PM EDT, but I’m not 100% consistent on that point.

    -Vince Wright

    Apr 10.2023 | 07:31 am

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