Theology in Song

The song below, Glorious Day as performed by Casting Crowns, and originally written in 1908 as the hymn Oh Glorious Day, by Rev. John Wilbur Chapman is rich with theological themes.  Every time I hear the song I can’t help but notice how filled with doctrine this song is, such that it truly causes me to reflect on the glorious work that God has done for His children and then to worship Him for it.  In Psalm 66:1-4 the psalmist says, “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!  Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!  So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.  All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name. Selah.’”  What is the source for singing praises to God?  A right understanding of who God is and what He has done is the source for a fountain of worship.  Everything in the believer’s life should flow forth from a right understanding of who God is and worship is no different.  I’ve summarized some of the more overt theological themes from the song.  Understanding their place in reality makes them much more than mere words in a song.

1. Heaven filled with His praises – Doctrine of Angels
2. When sin was as black as could be – Doctrine of Sin
3. Born of a virgin – Doctrine of the Virgin Birth
4. Word became flesh – Doctrine of the Incarnation
5. Living He loved me –Doctrine of the Atonement – Active Obedience/Sinlessness
6. Dying He saved me –Doctrine of the Atonement – Passive Obedience/Propitiation/Substitutionary Atonement
7. Buried He carried my sins far away –Doctrine of the Atonement – Expiation
8. Rising He justified –Doctrine of the Resurrection/Doctrine of Justification
9. One Day He’s Coming – Doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming
10. Bearing Our Sins – Doctrine of the Atonement – Penal Substitutionary Atonement
11. My Redeemer is He – Doctrine of Redemption
12. Took the nails for me –Doctrine of the Atonement – Penal Substitutionary Atonement
13. The grave could no longer conceal Him – Doctrine of the Resurrection
14. Then He arose, over death He had conquered –Doctrine of the Resurrection
15. Now He’s ascended  – Doctrine of Christ’s Ascension
16. One day the trumpet will sound for His coming – Doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming