The King in All His Beauty

“The King in All His Beauty” by Keith and Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa is a hymn-like song that walks through three scenes. The first lifts the eyes to heaven to see “the Holy One eternal,” the Lord of Majesty exalted in his temple while angels strain to sound his glory. The call is to worship and fall before his grace.

The refrain asks only one question, repeated: “How worthy.” The second verse shifts to the cross, where the King wears a crown “made of shame and splinters.” He is the sacrifice for ruined man and the substitute for sinners. The earth is stained with royal blood and quakes with love and fury, and the verse ends as he breathes his last and bows his head. The third verse looks ahead to the Savior lifted up, the Lamb who reigns in splendor and is the hope of every tribe and tongue, whose kingdom is forever. It closes with a call to bring wisdom, power and blessing, and to adore him through endless ages. Moving from heaven to Calvary to the end of time gives the song a complete shape, and the plain language makes it easy for a congregation to learn quickly while still sounding like a traditional hymn.

The Lord seen high and exalted is Isaiah 6:1. The Lamb worthy to receive power is Revelation 5:12, and every tribe and tongue is Revelation 7:9.