When Worship Turns Inward: Repetition, Focus, and the Object of Our Praise
In recent years, conversations about worship music—especially modern worship songs—have become increasingly common in the church. Questions about repetition, lyrical focus, and theological depth are not new, but they continue to surface as worship styles evolve. One frequent observation is that Scripture itself makes generous use of repetition, particularly in the Psalms. A well-known example is Psalm 136, where every verse ends with the phrase, “for his steadfast love endures forever.” Clearly, repetition in worship is not only biblical—it can be deeply formative. So the issue is not whether repetition belongs in worship. The more important question is what repetition is meant to do—and whom it directs our attention toward. Repetition That Forms vs. Repetition That Shifts the Focus Psalm 136 repeats a single phrase twenty-six times: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1, ESV) The repetition is intentional, but notice what ...