Blessed Be His Name

words & music by Doug Howell (20 Mar 1976)

blessed be His name
glory to His name
Jesus holds all things in His hand
let us praise His holy name

(repeat chorus)

even in our darkness
we know His love won’t fail
when the best that you can seem to feel is bad
so bad
His love will show the way
when those that you look up to let you down
Jesus won’t desert you
He’ll heal when others hurt you
He’ll chase away the memories
and help you love again

(repeat chorus)

1977 Notes

“And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’

“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

“‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glorfy and dominion forever and ever.’
Amen.”

Revelation 5:11-13

2006 Notes

I must have listened to this song about a hundred times since I got Freed digitized. It’s one of my favorite songs—not just on this album, but ever. (Mine or anyone else’s, for that matter.) To me, it says it all, the immutable truth of who God is and what God’s purpose is for us, and the utter humanity of us, the poor creature-disciples. It’s only when we acknowledge that humanity that we can know—really know—divinity. And that, I guess, is really this song’s message.

My prayer is that these songs will somehow cause every listener to more fully realize the incredible, unspeakable greatness of God, and that in all our frail, inconstant, imperfect humanity, we are not alone.