Album Lyrics

Music at Ada

King of Ages | Track Sixteen

Written by Andrew Ferris © 1999

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Jehovah God, most perfect creator
of you alone the angels sing
eternal king, victorious ruler
to you alone all men will sing

Father i can't understand your presence
immortal, you shame my mind

great king of light, your glory will shine
far beyond heaven and far beyond time
with my heart to the ground for just who you are
my being proclaims that you are the king of ages

Jehovah God (before the beginning)
most perfect creator (the source of all life)
of you alone the angels sing
eternal king (forever your kingdom)
victorious ruler (forever you'll reign)
to you alone all men will sing

far beyond love, far beyond grace
far beyond goodness is your glorious face
greater than all of the works of your hand
worthy beyond all the praises of man
yours is the light, my heart is your home
i pray that you'd let your kingdom come

The Story Behind the Tune


A note from Andy Ferris
This song is so old that I remember little about why I wrote it.  I just love the fact that it gets sung from time to time here at Ada Bible Church. 

Somehow these words give voice to our people as they experience and encounter God.  I’m sure there is some deep theological concept behind it that would impress all of you reading this (ha!) but now all I can think of is how cheesy that rhyme is in the bridge (face rhyming with grace...i would go back and change that if I could). 

To all of you that write songs there are certain rhyme schemes to avoid: crying and dying, night and light (or right, sight, etc) and face and grace. 

Great ideas, they’ve just been way overused in Christian songwriting the last few hundred years. Oh…almost forgot, God and Sod…right out!

A note from Rick Hopkins
What can be said about this song? It's a classic despite what Andy says about rhyming schemes. Which by the way, thanks for making me feel like a looser Andy... (take away the shame and disgrace, lift us up out of this place, let us see your face). Yup those are mine, from a little song called "Lift Up Your Eyes". I think we all know how that one turned out don't we Andy!

Shameless plug and sarcasm aside, King Of Ages has been a song that I have loved for a long time. It is still a favorite of mine to sing, especially that adrenaline rush i get coming out of the bridge into the last chorus just yelling "Great King Of Light"!

The build of the song leads you closer to God in worship.