In this series, I explore some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀.
Select the arrow for my “general intro” (which I’m reusing for all the modern hymns that I explore)
I grew up with rock music, so it’s not such a shocking thing for me to explore these. Back in my earlier years as a Christian, we had the old hymns and some modern choruses that originated in the 1970s charismatic movement. As time went on, I started to prefer the older hymns.
Nowadays, I try to maintain an interest in all Christian music. It’s easy to find “trendy” Christian music annoying, even as a Christian 😀. I don’t know why. But I’m trying to overcome that prejudice. Perhaps the older hymns give us a sense of history, but many of these would have been similar to popular music of their day. So maybe people cringed when they first heard some of these too 😀.
Anyway, today’s hymn is Same God. It’s from 2022.
Why Same God? The hymn focuses on the fact that God doesn’t change. We can totally rely on his promises. Of course, our perception of him can change. But by familiarizing ourselves with the Scriptures, we can help ensure that our view of God corresponds to how he has revealed himself rather than on popular notions that often do change. I even saw that happening here in Ireland throughout my own lifetime.
I sometimes visit St Mary’s Cathedral here in Limerick. It’s a striking contrast to the modern buildings where most of us evangelicals meet. But what I like about it is that it reminds me of how the people of Limerick worshipped the same God way back in 1168.
And some think that the Gallerus Oratory in County Kerry might go right back to the 6th Century. There are certainly many ancient monastic sites in Ireland, as there are throughout the world. Back then, they didn’t have the kind of access to the Bible that we have today. And maybe their views were somewhat based on popular notions of their time. But God himself was no different.
In Same God, the writer goes right back to the God of Jacob, reminding himself that he is worshipping the same God.
I'm calling on the God of Jacob
Whose love endures through generations
I know that You will keep Your covenant
I also think of this verse from Hebrews:
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
As a human, he obviously changed. But as God the Son, he was, is, and will be the same forever. And we have no reason to believe that his current, resurrected, glorified human form will ever change.
It’s wonderful that God is the same. If we didn’t realize it and if we didn’t remind ourselves of the fact, we might think that God would get tired of us and leave the world to its own devices. It can sometimes seem like that, but Scripture emphasizes that it’s all part of a greater plan.
Ephesians 1:11-12
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
I can think of a couple of older hymns that emphasize that God doesn’t change, but remains faithful to those who commit themselves to him:
Here are a couple of modernish hymns on the same theme:
And here are a couple of interesting versions of Same God.
Hibernia Gospel 