Everyone has comfort songs, right? Songs that define your safe place. Songs that make you feel okay—not necessarily excited or energized, but a warm, reassuring okay.
That’s what this song is for me. One particular lyric does it for me, but we’ll get there.
This is an Analysis of "Behold" by Hillsong.
"Behold," also known as "Then Sings My Soul," is a worship song by Hillsong Worship, featured on their 2016 album, Let There Be Light. It was written by Joel Houston (surprise, surprise).
Many Christians will recognize its refrain, "Then sings my soul," which draws inspiration from the classic hymn How Great Thou Art.
Until I sat down to write this, I hadn’t realized that the song’s lyrical progression follows a Trinitarian structure. First, it presents the Father’s love, then it speaks of Christ’s sacrifice, and finally, it introduces the Holy Spirit’s guiding presence.
Let’s dive in.
The Father's Love and Majesty
God the Father is great, and the song opens with a powerful acknowledgment of His heart and love for humanity:
"Behold the Father's heart
The mystery He lavishes on us
As deep cries out to deep
Oh, how desperately He wants us."
Love is the central message of the Bible. God loves us with a love beyond comprehension (believe me, I’ve tried and failed to fathom it). His love is truly unconditional—so much so that He loved us even when we were His enemies.
'For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!'
Romans 5:10
The opening lines of the song emphasize the boundless nature of God's love, described as a mystery and something lavished upon believers.
Then comes the striking contrast between the “things of earth” and God’s greatness:
"The things of earth stand next to Him
Like a candle to the sun
Unfailing Father
What compares to His great love"
Many people today emphasize how insignificant humanity is in the vastness of the cosmos—"We live on a speck of dust hurtling through space," and so on.
Yet, the Bible and this song offer a similar yet different perspective. Everything we see, value, and chase—our distractions, wants, and desires—pale in comparison to the eternal love, power, and might of God. This is why we are called to “set [our] minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2)
Christ Enters the Scene
The second verse shifts focus to Jesus Christ, portraying Him as both the Lion and the Lamb—two contrasting yet complementary symbols of strength and sacrifice.
"Behold His holy Son
The Lion and the Lamb given to us
The Word became a man
That my soul should know its Savior"
This line is subtle yet profound. No one has seen God. In the Old Testament, prophets longed to behold His glory, but they could only see through a veil.
Then Jesus came—the visible manifestation of God on Earth. He lived, taught, and loved, leaving behind His words and teachings so that we might know Him. Through Christ, we come to know God’s heart and draw closer to Him.
The Christian life is a journey of knowing God and growing in love for Him, and this lyric captures that beautifully.
"Forsaken for the sake of all mankind
Salvation is in His blood
Jesus Messiah
The righteous died for love"
Jesus came to die. That was His mission. He was insulted, beaten, stripped, spit on, and endured an excruciating death for our salvation. He suffered—make no mistake about that. Isaiah 53 spells it out clearly. Jesus bore shame and agony so that we wouldn’t have to. Everything we deserved was placed upon Him so that we might stand boldly in the presence of God.
"It wasn't over
For He is the risen One."
These lyrics celebrate our victory—one that was won for us by Jesus and God.
The Holy Spirit, our friend
This is actually my favorite part. I discovered this song during medical school, and it was timely. I played the following lines over and over:
"Behold I have a friend
The Spirit breathing holy fire within
My ever present help
Speaking truth when I can't find it."
Are you struggling to find the truth? You have a friend—the Holy Spirit of God. He is here to help you. That is His mission on Earth. He is described as a Counselor, Comforter, and Helper—everything you need in a friend. And He is always with you.
The Hope: Christ’s Return
The song concludes with an eschatological vision, pointing toward Christ’s return:
"Then sings my soul my God
He who was and is to come
Prepare the way
Until the work on earth is done
Watch as the clouds He rides swing low
Lift up the sound
As He makes our praise His throne
Behold the Lord our God will lead us home."
This echoes Revelation 1:8, which describes Christ as the eternal One. The final lines—"Behold the Lord our God will lead us home"—capture the Christian hope of ultimate restoration and communion with God.
Conclusion
"Behold" is a masterfully structured worship song that takes listeners on a theological journey—from God’s love, through Christ’s sacrifice, to the Holy Spirit’s presence, culminating in the anticipation of Christ’s return.
Take a moment to listen to it today. You will be blessed.
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