Worship Song Review: Behold (King of Glory)
- This beautiful song is a pointed call to worship that helps us take a big pause from the influx of busyness and directs us to refocus our hearts, heads, and voices on God.
David and Nicole Binion are a husband and wife ministry team based out of Texas. With 28 years of marriage and nearly as much ministry under their belts, they have a wealth of accolades and experience with an extensive roster of artists and evangelists. What is unmistakable about this team is their passion to worship God and lead others to do the same.
You can certainly hear – and almost feel – the Binion’s passion for worship in their latest live recording of Behold (King of Glory). This beautiful song is a pointed call to worship that helps us take a big pause from the influx of busyness and data that infiltrates our daily lives and directs us to refocus our hearts, heads, and voices on God and His incredible attributes.
MUSIC AND PRODUCTION
Live music can be challenging to produce well, but Behold, King of Glory, is dead on with its clear vocals, slow layering of instruments, and delicate mix.
Written by Dwan Hill, Jessica Hiite, Sarah Kroger, and Addison Bevere, the stirring lyrics and Taize-style melody keep the focus exactly where our worship needs to be: on the King of Glory.
One of the most striking aspects of this song is its beautiful simplicity, from the delicate opening piano chords to the paired-down percussion, topped off with gentle and rich harmonies. Nothing here distracts you from the point – the glory of God.
THEME
In ancient Greek, the word for “King of Glory” was used to describe various monarchs throughout history, but in Psalm 24, we read of the Psalmist asking, “Who is this king of glory?”
The Psalm may have been a call to worship, with a worship leader calling and the congregation singing in response.
The Binions usher into this same type of worship space – by pointing to the true King of Glory and all of His incredible attributes found in Psalm 24 and those psalms that follow: righteousness, might, authority, and especially a love so deep that it can bring the nations together in worship.
STYLE
In a world full of busyness and noise, I am captivated by the simplicity of this beautiful song, reminding me of the golden days of Matt Redman’s Heart of Worship. A short introduction using just a few opening chords is the lead-in to Nicole’s pure vocals. She is slowly and quietly joined by the rich harmonies of a choir at worship.
Our worship leaders trade-off in the lead vocals, backed by the lush choir, as the song builds up slowly, over time, all the while keeping that simple focus on God and His attributes.
Lest you get bored by the simple melody, in sneak a variety of instruments, including pared-down percussion, acoustic guitar, and electric piano.
The song turns into an almost spirit song with a bit of a free-worship feel until that perfectly executed acapella key change, where the music builds until the final refrain, giving us just a quick glimpse of the worship songs we might one day find in Heaven.
ACCESSIBILITY
If you ever needed your congregation to learn a new song quickly, this would be it. The refrain is so simple and easy to sing your worship community should be able to pick it up by the second refrain.
The lyrics to the refrain: “Behold, behold, behold, the king of glory,” are easy to memorize and easy to sing, falling within a four-note range or so in the key of C. The congregation (and your team of worship musicians) will be able to learn and sing Behold (King of Glory) boldly and with ease.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In a time when we are constantly bombarded by stimuli, video clips, conflicting information, and dopamine hits from Instagram pics, we need more time to meditate on who God really is. Behold (King of Glory) gives us the musical space and theological words to do just that. May we sit back, contemplate, and boldly sing about and to the King of Glory.
MORE
Behold (King of Glory) is easy to learn and sing, providing us with the words and headspace to focus on God, the true King of Glory, with a very simple opening and an incredible, natural build throughout the song.
LESS
Although this song gives us plenty of space to meditate, the live version, as recorded by David and Nicole, may be too long for a typical worship service at a hearty 6 minutes and 38 seconds. You may want to use fewer repetitions when you introduce this single into your corporate worship setting.
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