We’re back again with another Phil Wickham review! This will be my third, following the amazing scores from This Is Amazing Grace and Living Hope. I have high hopes for Great Things!

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?

The entire song states that God does great things, shows examples of how great God is, and moves us to look and see. Worship and rejoicing are appropriate responses. Examples of God’s greatness include:

Victory over death

Sets captives free

Breaks enslavement of sin

Faithfulness to His promises

Immutable nature

I appreciate the explicit naming of God and clarity to which Wickham presents his message.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

I found no issues from a Biblical standpoint.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Come let us worship our King

Come let us bow at His feet

He has done great things

See what our Savior has done

See how His love overcomes

He has done great things

He has done great things

We are led to see the great things God has done and worship in response. Wickham describes these great things later in the song. Also explicitly stated in Psalm 126:3.

[Chorus]

Oh, hero of Heaven, You conquered the grave

Jesus resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8), defeating death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).

You free every captive and break every chain

More good things, that God sets the captives free (Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18) and breaks the bondage of sin (Psalm 116:16, Mark 5:8, Romans 6:20, and Galatians 5:1).

Oh God, You have done great things

Yes, you mentioned that in Verse 1.

We dance in Your freedom, awake and alive

An appropriate response to salvation (Psalm 30:11-12 and Psalm 149:3-4).

Oh Jesus, our Savior, Your name lifted high

This is so because there is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Of course, this doesn’t include equivalent linguistic translations.

Oh God, You have done great things

Repeats line 3.

[Verse 2]

You’ve been faithful through every storm

You’ll be faithful forevermore

That is, faithful in accordance with His will, purpose, and timing (Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalms 119:90, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9).

You have done great things

Derivative of Verse 1, line 3, though with the pronoun changed from “He” to “You”.

And I know You will do it again

For Your promise is “Yes and amen”

Borrowed from 2 Corinthians 1:20, Wickham states that God has been faithful in the past and trusts He will be again.

You will do great things

God, You do great things

Derivative of Verse 1, line 3, utilizing future and present tenses. This covers the entire time-span of His mighty works.

[Bridge]

Hallelujah God, above it all

That is, God is greater, period (Deuteronomy 10:17, Psalm 8:3–4, Psalm 147:5, Job 26:14, Isaiah 40:28, and Isaiah 55:8–9).

Hallelujah God, unshakable

That is, or God’s nature does not change (Numbers 23:19, Psalm 33:11, Psalm 102:25-27, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 46:10, Malachi 3:6, Romans 11:29, Hebrews 6:17, Hebrews 13:8, and James 1:17).

Hallelujah, You have done great things

Derivative of Verse 1, line 3, appending “Hallelujah” to it.

Hallelujah God, above it all

Hallelujah God, unshakable

Hallelujah, You have done great things

Repeats lines 1-3.

You’ve done great things

Derivative of Verse 1, line 3. This time, Wickham uses a contraction at the beginning.

[Outro]

You have done great things

Oh God, You do great things

Repeats verse 2, lines 6 and 7.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Anyone who knows English should easily understand this song to mean Christian worship of their God, expressing how great God is. Any other interpretation is highly unlikely, especially given every day, non-churchy language Wickham chose in his wording.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

I AM.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Phil Wickham’s Great Things is an excellent song for any worship set. Its message that proclaims the goodness of God compels Christians to worship and unbelievers to explore Christianity, both of which bring glory to God. He has done a wonderful job explaining why God is good using language understandable by everyone.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Great Things (listen to the song) (buy the song)

Artist: Phil Wickham

Album: Living Hope (buy the album)

Genre: Pop, Rock

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 4:50

Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2018 Son of the Lion (BMI) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) / Simply Global (BMI) / Phil Wickham Music (BMI) / Sing My Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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