He Is

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of divine power and human fallibility, recounting a familiar biblical narrative. The opening verses establish a pattern: God leads his people out of bondage, but they repeatedly falter, wandering in the wilderness and straying from His commands. This cycle highlights a persistent tension between divine guidance and human disobedience. The repeated refrain, "He is, he is, he is," serves as an anchor, emphasizing the unchanging nature of God amidst the Israelites' wavering faith. The core of the song lies in this contrast between God's steadfastness and humanity's tendency to forget or rebel. The lyrics explicitly state, "But their hearts grew hard and they went astray," underscoring the recurring theme of divine disappointment. Yet, the song doesn't dwell solely on judgment; it pivots to God's enduring attributes, listing titles like "God of Abraham," "Lion of Judah," and "perfect Lamb," alongside his miraculous acts of "giving sight to the blind." The craft here is in the direct address and the framing of the narrative. The shift from recounting past events to a present-day exhortation – "We better listen to His Word / And we better listen well" – creates a sense of urgency. The lyrics suggest that the ancient story is a template for contemporary belief, urging listeners to heed the divine message to avoid a similar fate of being "carried away."