Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Seated on the throne
You are worthy of all praise
bowing down I honor you
Only Sovereign Lord
At Your feet I fall
Only Sovereign Lord
You are above all
Mighty, Mighty, is the Lamb
High and lifted up
You're the Savior of my soul
By Your blood I've overcome
Only Sovereign Lord
At Your feet I fall
Only Sovereign Lord
You are above all
I surrender my life to you
I surrender my life to you
Only Sovereign Lord
At Your feet I fall
Only Sovereign Lord
You are above all
About This Song
The meaning of the word sovereign is “a supreme ruler”. That is who the Lord Jesus is. Also, there is only one Lord we need to follow. That is where the title comes, Only Sovereign Lord. The song starts out exalting Jesus as a holy Lord in His rightful place on the throne. This speaks of his royalty and position to rule. When looking to Jesus the appropriate response in worship. In the song this act is shown honor through bowing at his feet and lifting him up.
The main reason I write worship songs like Only Sovereign Lord is to be a blessing and resource for the Christian church. As I ponder about the song Only Sovereign Lord here are some answers to questions that hopefully share the song’s story.
The meaning of the word sovereign is “a supreme ruler”. That is who the Lord Jesus is. Also, there is only one Lord we need to follow. That is where the title comes, Only Sovereign Lord.
Song Lyrics
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Seated on the throne
You are worthy of all praise
bowing down I honor you
Only Sovereign Lord
At Your feet I fall
Only Sovereign Lord
You are above all
Mighty, Mighty, is the Lamb
High and lifted up
You're the Savior of my soul
By Your blood I've overcome
Only Sovereign Lord
At Your feet I fall
Only Sovereign Lord
You are above all
I surrender my life to you
I surrender my life to you
Only Sovereign Lord
At Your feet I fall
Only Sovereign Lord
You are above all
The song starts out exalting Jesus as a holy Lord in His rightful place on the throne. This speaks of his royalty and position to rule. When looking to Jesus the appropriate response in worship. In the song this act is shown honor through bowing at his feet. In Act 4:24 it is written
“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”
The role of the Christian worshipper is to give honor and praise. We are also called to place him above everything.
In the second verse the song reminds the worshiper the greatest thing done for mankind. Jesus is the Lamb that was slain for our sins. The amazing thing is that this Lamb is mighty is strength. Through the blood of Jesus comes salvation. Our salvation allows us to overcome sin and death. But there is one thing every person must do to receive this gift.
We find that response in the bridge of the song. Only when a person surrenders to Jesus can they experience true salvation. John the Baptist so eloquently said
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
We are designed to worship God. The fall makes this act difficult. However, the Mighty Lamb Jesus who is the “Only Sovereign Lord” provides people a way of salvation. For this honor him by bowing down at the feet of Jesus who sits on the throne.
Why I wrote Only Sovereign Lord?
There will be a day in the future where everyone will bow down and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. In this song the picture I want to paint is what that would be for Christ followers. The attributes of the Lord are many. He is Holy, He is worthy and He is mighty. Our response is to acknowledge that he is the one and only sovereign Lord. The worshippers response is to fall down and bow at his feet. That is an act of submission to His rule.
What inspired the song Only Sovereign Lord?
The song Only Sovereign Lord is inspired by a combination of several bible verses. Here are ones that stand out in regards to the song itself
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 4:24 NIV
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
PSALM 146 1-2
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, thou King of saints.”
Revelation 15:3
“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker”
Psalm 95:6
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
Job 1:20
What message would you like people to take from the song Only Sovereign Lord?
There will be a day where everyone will die. There are options available today as we live to make a decision to commit our lives to God. In this song it is my hope that the individual that sings these words will have a fore knowledge of what it will be like in heaven. Christian devotion to God start now. Let us reverence the Lord for what He has done. Our lives need to surrender to the amazing free gift of salvation.