“The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song
This study investigates the theological function of the contemporary worship song “The Blessing” by addressing the following guiding research question: in what ways does “The Blessing” function as a form of prophetic declaration and communal prayer in contemporary congregational worship? Drawing on...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/908 |
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| author | Hiwee Leng Toh |
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| author_sort | Hiwee Leng Toh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the theological function of the contemporary worship song “The Blessing” by addressing the following guiding research question: in what ways does “The Blessing” function as a form of prophetic declaration and communal prayer in contemporary congregational worship? Drawing on frameworks from Pentecostal theology, lyrical theology, and performative speech-act theory, this study analyzes how the song’s language, structure, and performance embody Spirit-enabled proclamation and intercession. Engaging Rice’s Evagrian–LAPT grammar, Glenn Packiam’s theology of worship as encounter, and Steven Félix-Jäger’s model of New Testament prophecy, the textual analysis focuses on the song’s present-tense verbs of divine action and its lyrical constructions. Scripturally grounded in Numbers 6:24–26, “The Blessing” operates as a sung benediction that invokes God’s blessing, sanctification, divine favor and protection, covenantal presence, and peace. The repetitive use of “Amen” functions as a communal seal of affirmation, turning passive reception into active, prophetic participation when sung. This study contends that the song exemplifies how contemporary congregational song serves as primary theology—Spirit-inspired, embodied, and sounded—where proclamation and prayer are nurtured in lived worship. Ultimately, “The Blessing” functions as a pneumatological and ecclesial act of sung prophecy and intercession—an instance of primary theologizing that nurtures the worshiping community and mediates a Spirit-empowered encounter with divine hope. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2ff5728e1ca24cf1a46492af78692c27 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-2ff5728e1ca24cf1a46492af78692c272025-08-20T03:32:15ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-07-0116790810.3390/rel16070908“The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational SongHiwee Leng Toh0School of Arts and Business, Alphacrucis University College, Parramatta, NSW 2124, AustraliaThis study investigates the theological function of the contemporary worship song “The Blessing” by addressing the following guiding research question: in what ways does “The Blessing” function as a form of prophetic declaration and communal prayer in contemporary congregational worship? Drawing on frameworks from Pentecostal theology, lyrical theology, and performative speech-act theory, this study analyzes how the song’s language, structure, and performance embody Spirit-enabled proclamation and intercession. Engaging Rice’s Evagrian–LAPT grammar, Glenn Packiam’s theology of worship as encounter, and Steven Félix-Jäger’s model of New Testament prophecy, the textual analysis focuses on the song’s present-tense verbs of divine action and its lyrical constructions. Scripturally grounded in Numbers 6:24–26, “The Blessing” operates as a sung benediction that invokes God’s blessing, sanctification, divine favor and protection, covenantal presence, and peace. The repetitive use of “Amen” functions as a communal seal of affirmation, turning passive reception into active, prophetic participation when sung. This study contends that the song exemplifies how contemporary congregational song serves as primary theology—Spirit-inspired, embodied, and sounded—where proclamation and prayer are nurtured in lived worship. Ultimately, “The Blessing” functions as a pneumatological and ecclesial act of sung prophecy and intercession—an instance of primary theologizing that nurtures the worshiping community and mediates a Spirit-empowered encounter with divine hope.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/908sung theologycontemporary congregational song lyricsthe priestly blessingprophetic declarationcommunal prayer |
| spellingShingle | Hiwee Leng Toh “The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song Religions sung theology contemporary congregational song lyrics the priestly blessing prophetic declaration communal prayer |
| title | “The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song |
| title_full | “The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song |
| title_fullStr | “The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song |
| title_full_unstemmed | “The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song |
| title_short | “The Blessing” as Prophetic Declaration and Communal Prayer: A Pentecostal Lyrical Analysis of the Contemporary Congregational Song |
| title_sort | the blessing as prophetic declaration and communal prayer a pentecostal lyrical analysis of the contemporary congregational song |
| topic | sung theology contemporary congregational song lyrics the priestly blessing prophetic declaration communal prayer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/908 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hiweelengtoh theblessingaspropheticdeclarationandcommunalprayerapentecostallyricalanalysisofthecontemporarycongregationalsong |