Or perhaps this is simply a terribly unfortunate word choice. But does affirming God’s work in micro-evolution really warrant mention and celebration in a worship song? It’s difficult to read “evolving” here, in the context of nature and science, as anything other than an affirmation of what we might call “theistic evolution” - that God governed and guided the process modern science has called “evolution.” Perhaps the authors only mean to affirm what we call “micro-evolution,” the observable generational adaptations within species, rather than the more philosophical theory of origins. The second verse mentions not just “nature” but also “science,” and then describes God’s one hundred billion creatures as “ evolving in pursuit of what you said.”Ī hundred billion creatures catch your breath It seems fitting, then, that we also exercise care with ours. Ironically, this verse begins, “God of your promise / You don’t speak in vain / No syllable empty or void.” We praise God for his care with words. The trouble in the second verse comes down to a single word. It’s the second verse that creates the one big Why? Why That Word? Even then, I can get over my qualms with the third verse. I also pause when the song says Jesus “would again a hundred billion times.” It’s an admirable sentiment but seems to overlook the stunning once-for-all-ness of Jesus’s sacrifice (Romans 6:10 Hebrews 7:27 9:12, 26 10:10). I’m eager to affirm Jesus died for all (1 John 2:2 John 4:14 Revelation 22:17), just not all in the same way (for his sheep, John 10:14–15 his friends, John 15:13 his bride, Ephesians 5:25). We “see heart / Eight billion different ways.” We could quibble over whether “child” is a helpful term for all eight billion humans: “Every precious one / A child you died to save.” But the lyrics here do circle back to creation by mentioning eight billion humans made in God’s image. Just as creation reveals God, so also the cross reveals his heart of love. The third and final verse is even more powerful than the first. And “if creation sings your praises, so will I.” As the bridge will add, “Everything exists to lift you high.” Amen. He spoke and there was light - galaxies were born, planets and stars formed - all to tell of his glory. Thorn in the SecondĪnd I love the first verse. It’s easy to see why so many Christians love this song.
a hundred billion failures disappear.” And if creation still sings his praises, so will we - 100 billion times. a hundred billion creatures catch your breath. Each verse then shapes its own version of the chorus, beginning with “And as you speak, a hundred billion galaxies are born.
” - first creation, then promise, then salvation. In this spirit, the song rallies our praises, to join the creation.Įach of the three verses begins with “God of. Jesus answers, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). The song also draws on Luke 19, when the disciples are rejoicing and praising God for what they see in Jesus, and the Pharisees charge Jesus to rebuke them. The song grows out of Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” And if the heavens declare his glory, sings the refrain, “so will I.” The song has a compelling and reverent sound (and now nearly thirty million plays on Spotify).
Hillsong United’s “So Will I (100 Billion X)” appeared last June on the worship band’s album Wonder and then as a single this January.
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