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| We make way for You, Prepare a place for You; Let our praise become Your throne. Hear Your people sing, Give You everything; Jesus all for You alone. All hail the King, All hail the Savior: Jesus, the Son of God. All hail His name, All hail His power; | Before His feet we fall, As we crown Him Lord of all. This is royalty, robed in majesty; All the earth will stand in awe. For eternity, all of heaven sings With an everlasting song. Awake my soul and sing Of Him who died for me; And hail Him as the matchless King Through all eternity. |
Its origins archaic, the phrase “All hail!” simply means to enthusiastically greet someone, generally with a larger group of people. It adds reverence to the greeting as well, as the phrase often is used in the greeting of noblemen, royalty, or others in high regard. Then, to exclaim “All hail the King, all hail the Savior: Jesus, the Son of God!” is to welcome our Lord among us and to revere him as the ultimate Royal. We welcome Him as the King of the universe, the King of our people, the King of our hearts. His kingship is scattered all throughout the Bible: “…God is King of the whole earth. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:7–8 CSB). “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17 CSB). The Book of Revelation further establishes that Jesus Christ is King: “And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16 CSB). There is no debate: Jesus, the Son of God, is King of the universe.
So, then, what is our response? Andi Rozier, David Leonard, and Jason Ingram repurpose the aged, beloved words as the bridge of the hymn: “Awake my soul and sing of Him who died for me; and hail Him as the matchless King through all eternity.” The only right response to an encounter with the King of all is to worship Him, to hail Him as indeed the matchless King. And the best part: He sits on the throne of praise! Remember the words of David: “But You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3 CSB). Our worship should be, then, for all our days and into eternity because He is worthy of it!O, hail the matchless and undisputed King of the universe! Our lives pale in comparison to the whole of who You are. Immortal and invisible God, never let us forget the abundant wonder and majesty that You possess, lest we fall into the sin of belittling You. Awake our souls to the beauty of the gospel message, and may we crown You as the Lord of our lives for all eternity. Amen.