Photo by Isaac Davis
We the Kingdom began their career in 2018, releasing two albums and 6 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)
- A Family Christmas (2021)
- We the Kingdom (2022)
We the Kingdom won three GMA Dove Awards: New Artist of the Year (2020), Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year (2021), and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Holy Water, 2021).
Also, check out my reviews of Dancing on the Waves, Child of Love, God So Loved, Don’t Tread on Me, and Holy Water.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/We-the-kingdom-light-of-the-world-sing-hallelujah-lyrics.
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 lists Christ’s acts and attributes, to which we give praise, honor, and glory:
Attributes
- Illumination
- Treasured
- The Father’s joy
Acts
- Light defeats shadows
- Became a human to die for our sins
- Will come again on clouds to bring us home
- Reigns forever
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
The whole thing lines up with Scripture.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1 and 2: Jesus is light (John 1:1-8, John 8:12, and Ephesians 5:14) and a Heavenly treasure (Philippians 3:8-10). In this context, “brilliant” means “bright”, not “clever”. Each subsequent Verse and Bridge starts with the same opening first part.
Line 3: Christ is the Father’s pleasure (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 12:18, Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, and Luke 9:35). We who walked formerly in darkness see Jesus as the Great Light (Isaiah 9:2).
Line 4: The Son of God’s light drives out darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).
[Verse 2]
Lines 1-4: Jesus’ coming to earth was planned from the beginning, with its earliest prophecy of the cross (discussed later in the song) written in Genesis 3:15. Also, see 1 Peter 1:19-20 and Revelation 13:8.
[Chorus]
Lines 1 and 2: The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word. We praise Christ because of the things He did, as stated elsewhere in this song.
Line 3: Let us follow the example of others, worshipping Jesus as the Magi did in Matthew 2:11 and proclaiming it to others as the shepherds in Luke 2:17.
Line 4: Combines parts of line 1 and Verse 1, line 1.
Side Note: Chorus’ second and third iterations borrow from Verse 1, lines 1 and 4.
[Verse 3]
Line 1: According to Luke 1:32-33, Jesus would become the rightful and eternal heir of the throne of David.
Lines 2-4: Jesus came to die for our lawbreaking (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). Also, draws language from 2 Corinthians 8:9 concerning poor/rich.
[Bridge]
Lines 1-3: References Christ’s second coming (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 16:15, and Revelation 19:11-16). His fiery eyes, though not a reference to Revelation 19:12, is a common idiom that means “passionate and focused gaze”. He will come on the clouds (Acts 1:11 and Revelation 1:7), where we meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and enter New Jerusalem, rescued from pain, war, and death (Revelation 21:4).
Line 4: Christ will reign forever (Luke 1:32-33 and 1 Timothy 1:16-17).
Line 5: Essentially repeats line 4.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Verse 3 is the dead giveaway, with its manger and mention of the cross, that it’s a Christmas song that contains elements of Easter. All of the titles, they will see as attributing to Jesus, that He is light, King, valued, the Father’s delight, suffered on the cross, and will come again. I can’t think of a single thing that is easily misinterpretable.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus as King forever, whose lovingkindness compels Him to become one of us, suffered to liberate us from eternal destruction, and will come again to lead us to New Jerusalem. For this, we prostrate ourselves in worship.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
We The Kingdom’s Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) is joyous and hopeful. It briefly touches on the Christmas story, alongside His attributes (light, treasure, and Father’s joy) and acts (destroys darkness, died for us, second coming, rules eternally). These glorify God. Unbelievers should have little to no issues interpreting similarly.
This song is appropriate for corporate worship.
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) (listen to the song)
Artist: We The Kingdom
EP: A Family Christmas
Genre: Christmas, Pop
Release Year: 2021
Duration: 2021
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Updates:
12/20/2023 – Updated Bridge to remove the reference to Revelation 19:12 with a replacement explanation. Thank you Alan Versaw for correcting me on this verse!
Comments
ALAN VERSAW
Referencing your comments about the bridge, I wonder if it’s worth another look at Revelation 19:12 and the mention of eyes of fire. The bridge as a whole seems focused on the marriage supper of the lamb, which is found in Revelation 19. But, the eyes of fire reference (also found in Revelation 19) has to do with judgment, not the marriage supper of the lamb. In fact, this verse is part of the lead-up to “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” So, while the reference is definitely biblical, is it not perhaps a bit misplaced?
Vince Wright
Alan,
Thanks for your comments!
I don’t think this is referencing Revelation 19:12. “Fire in his eyes” is a common idiom that means “passionate and focused gaze”. In this case, the intense focus is on ransoming us. See ludwig.guru/s/fire+in+his+eyes.
-Vince Wright
ALAN VERSAW
Maybe I’m confused, but in the part of your review article that addresses the bridge of the song, you specifically mention the inclusion of “His fiery eyes,” and reference Revelation 19:12. I take it you are there referencing Rev. 19:12 as the source of that line in the song.
Are you moving away from that, or have I just misunderstood you somehow?
I would concur that “eyes of fire” can mean “passionate and focused gaze,” but I think the overall connotation of the phrase speaks of conflict, or at least potential conflict. When I refer to someone having fire in his eyes (and I suddenly wonder if this idiom has its beginnings in Rev. 19:12), I’m hinting that you probably don’t want to get in his way. That, I think, is the most common connotation of the phrase. It may be a passionate and focused gaze, but that passion and focus has a context. Perhaps people from different parts of the country use the phrase differently?
So, either way–or possibly both, my sense is still that the reference to the eyes of fire sends a sort of mixed message from the bridge.
You and I could discuss this in great detail and never resolve anything. I don’t expect the folks from We the Kingdom to enter the conversation and resolve our questions, but it would be cool if they did.
Vince Wright
Alan,
Aha! Ok yes, I see what you mean now. Yes, I’m pivoting away from that reference. You’re probably right, as I was taught that this phrase meant intense gaze/desire. But I also see your point about Revelation 19:12 and judgement. I suppose if other people weigh in, I might feel differently. For now, I’ll update my review with my newfound commentary and call it a day.
-Vince Wright