Lyrics: Lenny Smith, 1973.
Music: Lenny Smith, arranged by Thomas E. Fettke.
Theme:

Composer Lenny Smith: “Most people who sing the song only half-believe it. The real message of the song is not just that God reigns over great events, like kingdoms rising and falling. The real message is that He reigns over the details of what we call accidents and coincidences. His permissive will is His perect will, too . . . and it’s all for good.”

1. How lovely on the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
good news; announcing peace,
proclaiming news of happiness:
our God reigns, our God reigns!
Refrain
Our God reigns, our God reigns,
our God reigns, our God reigns!
2. He had no stately form,
he had no majesty that we should be drawn to him.
He was despised
and we took no account of him,
yet now he reigns with the Most High!
3. It was our sin and guilt that bruised and wounded him;
it was our sin that brought him down.
When we like sheep had gone astray,
our shepherd came and on his shoulders bore our shame!
4. Meek as a lamb that’s led out to the slaughterhouse,
still as a sheep before its shearer,
his life ran down upon the ground like pouring rain
that we might be born again!
5. Out of the tomb he came with grace and majesty;
he is alive, he is alive!
God loves us so:
see here his hands, his feet, his side;
yes, we know he is alive!

Text based on Isaiah 52:7. Text and music © 1974, 1978, New Jerusalem Music.
You can listen to an instrumental version of this contemporary hymn here.
And here’s an October, 2008 blog interview with Mr. Smith in which he says: “I would love to see the young musicians study literature and poetry to help them learn how to write inspired lyrics. I would love to see them learn how to write melodies with one finger on the piano and THEN go after the chords, rather than press melodies into chord patterns. I would love to see the young artists go forth… into the coffee houses and bookstores and clubs and get into the action.” Among other things.

And here is where you can download mp3 files of the songs on Mr. Smith’s one album:
Deep Calls to Deep.
FInally, here’s Sufjan Stevens singing a Lenny Smith composition entitled But For You Who Fear My Name. I do like me some Sufjan, thanks to my two eldest who introduced me to Mr. Stevens and his music a few years ago.

Sources:
Our God Reigns by Phil Christensen and Shari Macdonald.
The Blah Blah: Indie Music That Could Change Your Life. Or Not.