presenting Jordan merritt
read the story and listen to the song,
“Highest praise”
a few words from jordan merritt
Recently, while I was reading 1 and 2 Kings, something new stood out to me that I hadn’t seen before. I recognized how often “high places” showed up.
The high places were altars and places of worship, usually elevated on a hill or mountain that were dedicated to idol worship. What’s fascinating to me is that so many kings allowed the high places to exist, even the “good” kings.
For instance, Jotham:
“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places”- 2 Kings 15:34-35
The first commandment from God to His people was to not have any other gods before Him, yet king after king allowed idol worship by refusing to tear these structures down.
How does this apply to us? How does this apply to the song “Highest Praise”?
Ask God, “are there any high places in my heart? Is there anything that I am putting before You?”
I believe God receives our songs through the lens of our hearts. I don’t think He cares as much about the correctness of the words we sing as He does about the purity of our hearts. I can say all the right things to my wife, but she knows when my love for her is off. The same thing goes with God. He sees the real motive and intention of our hearts.
We can’t give God our highest praise until we tear down the high places in our own lives. Matthew 15:8 says “These people worship me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”.
My prayer for all of us is that we would not just give lip service to God, but that we would worship Him with our lives. I pray that we would be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him (Rom 12:1).
Lord, help us to tear down the high places in our hearts. Purify us. Forgive us for allowing the worship of other things in our lives. Holy Spirit, make us holy and pleasing to God!
highest praise lyrics
Verse 1
Ten thousand fantasies could never portray
Such perfect love, You’ve shown
No work of artistry could capture Your grace
Such beauty to behold
Verse 2
Ten thousand galaxies could never contain
The wonder You provoke
No masterpiece the best of earth could create
Amounts to all You’ve done
Pre Chorus 1
Oh, Jesus, King Jesus!
Chorus 1
We give You the highest praise!
We give You the highest praise!
All glory and honor and fame
Be unto Your name, the highest praise!
Verse 3
What kind of King would give His kingdom away
And pay what sinners owe?
What kind of God lays down His life in exchange
For enemies and foes?
Pre Chorus 2
Only Jesus, King Jesus!
Chorus 2
We give You the highest praise!
We give You the highest praise!
All glory and honor and fame
Be unto Your name, the highest praise!
Bridge
All glory, all honor
All power to Your name!
Forever, and ever
We’ll worship You our king!
Chorus 3
We give You the highest praise!
We give You the highest praise!
All glory and honor and fame
Be unto Your name, the highest praise!
Chorus 4
We give You the highest praise!
We give You the highest praise!
All glory and honor and fame
Be unto Your name, the highest praise!
Tag 1
Hey! The highest praise is Yours alone!
It’s Yours alone! Hey! The highest praise! The highest praise!
jordan merritt Bio
Jordan Merritt is a talented Christian songwriter and musician who has made a significant impact on the contemporary Christian music scene.
With a passion for creating music that inspires and uplifts listeners, Jordan has written a number of powerful worship songs that have become beloved favorites of Christians around the world.
Among Jordan's most notable works are "You Hold It All," a popular worship song recorded by the Newsboys; "People of the Cross," moving anthem performed by Selah; and "Yet I Want More," a powerful ballad featured on Vol. 3 of The Emerging Sound project.
Jordan's music is characterized by its heartfelt lyrics, soaring melodies, and powerful vocals, which combine to create an unforgettable listening experience. Whether he is writing for himself or collaborating with other artists, Jordan's dedication to his craft and his faith shine through in every song he creates.
You might also be able to find him singing in the band that he is a part of called "The Band Table".
CREDITS:
writers: Jordan merritt
Producers: Jordan Merritt, Kaleb Frazier, Zach Saltmarsh
mastered by joe causey at voyager mastering
mixed by david riddle
Copyright © 2019 Tent Peg Music (BMI). All rights reserved. CCLI# Pending