Photo by Xan Griffin
Songwriter Rick Founds is most famous for writing the song Lord I Lift Your Name On High, which according to CCLI, was the most popular song used in American churches from 1997 to 2003.
He also released eight albums, including:
- After All (2004)
- Everybody Praise Him! (2004)
- Carry Me Away (2004)
- Al Final (2007)
- Global Textures (2007)
- Tranquil Tunes (2008)
- Praise Classics 1 & 2 (2008)
- Christmas Jazz (2009)
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1. What message does the song communicate?
Founds praises God for saving him, happy that he decided to welcome Jesus into his life. Founds also summarizes Jesus’ life that originated and ends in heaven. He came to us from heaven, went to the cross to die for Founds’ lawbreaking, was buried, rose from the grave, and ascended back to heaven.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it is Biblical.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse]
Lord, I lift Your name on high
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
Founds loves to sing about his God (1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1-2, Psalm 98:1, and Psalm 149:1).
I’m so glad You’re in my life
Found is glad that he decided to pursue Jesus, opening the door that He knocks on (Revelation 3:20).
I’m so glad You came to save us
Found is happy that Jesus saved him (Isaiah 53:7-11, Matthew 1:21, John 1:29, Galatians 1:4, Galatians 3:13, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 3:5, and Revelation 1:5).
[Chorus]
You came from heaven to earth
Christ came from heaven and become one of us on earth (John 3:13 and Philippians 2:5-7).
To show the way
That is, Himself as the only way to the Father (John 14:6). He didn’t just tell us, He showed us how we ought to live so that we would follow His example (1 John 2:6).
From the earth to the cross
While I initially thought it was strange wording that Jesus went “from” the earth to the cross, because the cross is on earth, I realized that the cross was a total event, leading to His death and, eventually, His resurrection. According to John 12:31-33, Christ would be “lifted from the earth”, indicating the kind of death He would die. Also, according to 1 Peter 3:19, Jesus visited the “imprisoned spirits”, referring to events that took place while Jesus was dead and away from His earthly body.
My debt to pay
The Son of God paid for our sins on the cross (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 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).
From the cross to the grave
Jesus was buried (Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-46, Luke 23:50-56, and John 19:38-42).
From the grave to the sky
Christ ascended to heaven (Luke 24:51, John 8:28, John 12:32, John 20:17, and Ephesians 4:8-10), which implies His resurrection (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).
Lord, I lift Your name on high
Repeats Verse 1, line 1.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Founds praises Jesus because He is part of his life, came down from heaven to show the way and pay his debt, and went back to heaven. They know it’s Jesus because Founds mentions the cross.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God that Founds sings God’s praises for descending from heaven to save him.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Rick Founds’ Lord I Lift Your Name On High is amazing. Founds lifts their praises to Christ because He came from heaven to earth, showed us how to live, died on the cross for debts, rose again, and ascended to the Father, bringing Him glory.
I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: Lord I Lift Your Name On High (listen to Maranatha! Praise Band’s version of this song)
Artist: Rick Founds
Album: N/A
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 1989
Duration: N/A
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 1989 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publ. (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
09/09/2022 – After reading commentary from Jonathan L, Teressa, and Steve, I realized that there were Biblical answers to the “earth to the cross” questions I had. Therefore, I updated this review, increasing it from 9/10 to 10/10.
Comments
Eka
I think if you look at the full phrase of the chorus the “earth to cross” makes more sense. He came to earth to show the way is speaking of his ministry on earth. And then he died on the cross for our sins, marking the end of his earthly ministry. At least that’s how I think of it.
Jonathan L.
I’m not sure I understand your earth/cross concern. The Son of Man must be lifted high, like the serpent among the Israelites. Coming to earth communicates the Incarnation, God made flesh, while the crucifixion communicates his death on our behalf. The grave is also physically in the earth, but the progression simply communicates all the essential elements of the gospel.
Vince Wright
Jonathan,
Thank you for your comment! My thinking is that the cross occurred on earth, so how is it that Jesus went “from the earth to the cross”? However, I wasn’t thinking of the cross as a total event that would lead to his death and temporary absence from the earth.
I updated my review.
-Vince Wright
Teressa Lynn Lewis
As far as the phrase “from the earth to the cross”, Jesus stated that He would be “lifted up” as a reference to the cross. He walked on the earth, then was lifted up to hang from the cross, no longer to touch the earth in His earthly body.
“From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay” was one that hit me the hardest as a testimony of what Jesus did.
Vince Wright
Tereassa,
Thank you for your comment! This helped me realize that the cross was a total event that included His death, not just a partial event when Jesus was suffering.
I updated my review.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Vince,
Jesus Himself spoke of being ”lifted up from the earth”…
John 12:31 – 33 (KJV)
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
We know, of course, that He died on the cross.
Therefore, the phrase “From the earth to the cross” makes perfect sense to me.
Vince Wright
Steve,
Thank you for your comment! This Scripture put the final nail in the coffin that began with Jonathan and Teressa’s argument that addresses my questions. I also discovered another passage along similar lines, namely, 1 Peter 3:19.
I updated my review.
-Vince Wright
Michael
This is a great song, but I do have a small nit to pick with the lyrics. My church sings this song with a single word modified, changing the weak line:
*I’m so glad you’re in my life*
to the much stronger:
*I’m so glad you _are_ my life*
per Colossians 3:4: “Christ, who is our life…”
While the original “…in my life” is technically correct, it’s a vast understatement and could be applied to a great many things. I’m glad ice cream is in my life, for instance. And I’m so glad my wife is in my life. But neither my delicious ice cream nor my lovely wife *is* my life. Only Christ is.
Joe Norris
In regards to, “3. How would an outsider interpret the song?” in the verse ” To show the way “: This can be misleading to an outsider. Jesus says, “I am the Way”. John 14:6
The verse referenced in your explanation 1John 2:6 “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked,” touches on Jesus being the Way. In order for you to “ walk in the same manner as He walked” you have to abide in him. eg. trust in Jesus for your salvation.
People who have not trusted in Jesus are going to assume that if they do the things that Jesus did out of their flesh they are following Him. Churches are full of them.
Many people think that they can follow Jesus’s way without trusting in Him for their salvation. The Buddhist and Muslims follow their beliefs with their human abilities.