We The Kingdom – God So Loved

Relative newcomers We the Kingdom began in 2018, releasing one album and 5 EP’s.  These include:

• Live at the Wheelhouse (EP, 2019)
• Live Acoustic Sessions (EP, 2020)
• The Awakening (EP, 2020)
• The Battle (EP, 2020)
• The Journey (EP, 2020)
• Holy Water (2020)

We the Kingdom won a GMA Dove award in 2020 for New Artist of the Year.

Also, check out my reviews of Don’t Tread on Me and Holy Water.

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 invites everyone to bring their worries, shame, and heavy loads to the feet of Jesus. Through Christ, we will experience living water that will never run dry, forgiveness for lawbreaking, and blessing.  We praise God for His sacrificial love, attaining eternal life.

Score: 10/10

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

All the lyrics of this song are Scriptural.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Come all you weary, come all you thirsty

References Matthew 11:28.

Come to the well that never runs dry

References Isaiah 58:11.

Drink of the Water, come and thirst no more

References John 4:14.

[Verse 2]

Come all you sinners, come find His mercy

A call to unbelievers to receive God’s undeserved favor.  The first part probably borrows from James 4:8.  The second from Hebrews 4:16.

Come to the table, He will satisfy

That is, the table of communion (Luke 22:14-20), where we are content (Philippians 4:11-13).

Taste of His goodness, find what you’re looking for

The first part references Psalm 34:8.  The second, Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9.

[Chorus (1)]

For God so loved the world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him will live forever

Quotes from the famed John 3:16.

[Verse 3]

Bring all your failures, bring your addictions
Come lay them down at the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting there with open arms
Can you see His open arms? Here we go

The “foot of the cross”, though not itself in Scripture, is a modern representation of Christ’s suffering.  For Him to bear our sins (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), we must be willing to lay them at His feet (Matthew 11:28-30).

[Chorus (2)]

For God so loved the world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him will live forever

Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-3.

The power of hell forever defeated

That is, death was defeated (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).

Now it is well, I’m walking in freedom

This references Horatio Spafford’s hymn It Is Well With My Soul.  We The Kingdom is free from their burdens caused by sin (see commentary on Verse 3).

For God so loved, God so loved the world

Repeats the first part of line 1.

[Bridge]

Praise God, praise God

We The Kingdom invites us to worship God.

From whom all blessings flow

God blesses us (1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 5:13, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 9:1-20, Psalm 107:8-9, Psalm 95:2-3, Psalm 106:1, Jeremiah 30:19, Jeremiah 33:11, 1 Corinthians 1:4-5, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, Colossians 3:16-17, and 1 Timothy 4:4-5).

These first two lines borrow from Thomas Ken’s hymn Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow.

Praise Him, praise Him

See line 1.

For the wonders of His love

As shown on the cross (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:9-10).

Praise God, praise God
From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, praise Him
For the wonders of His love

Repeats lines 1-4.

His amazing love

Essentially repeats line 4.

[Outro]

Bring all your failures, bring your addictions
Come lay them down at the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting, God so loved the world

Combines Verse 3, lines 1-3a, and Chorus, line 1a.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will likely believe that they are called to action, namely, to bring their hurts and hang-ups to Jesus.  They should easily conclude it’s Christian based on the John 3:16 quote and explicit usage of the word “Jesus”, combined with everyday language to ease examination.  Even the word “sinners” is explained later in the song, as failures and addictions.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that this song pleads with its hearers to follow Jesus.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

We The Kingdom’s God So Loved is a great song.  It is evangelistic, compelling us to surrender our problems to Christ.  His love and compassion draw us near to Him, bringing Him glory.  Those outside Christianity should easily interpret similarly.

This song is perfect for an altar call, especially in seeker-sensitive churches.  Consider adding it to your worship set.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: God So Loved (listen to the song)

Artist: We The Kingdom

Album: Holy Water

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 4:25

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

*Copyright © 2019 We The Kingdom Music (BMI) Bay19 (ASCAP) Scott Cash Publishing Designee (BMI) Angie Feel Good Songs (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

09/27/2022 – Andrew found that the first two lines of Bridge come from a hymn.  Great find, Andrew!