What a Wonderful God

In 1968, Louis Armstrong recorded the song, "What a Wonderful World," primarily as a response to increasing racial tension in the United States. The song's intent was to help quell the climate by showing people a great hope for the future of the planet. It failed miserably, selling fewer than 1,000 copies, and all but disappeared for nearly 20 years.

In 1987, "What a Wonderful World" ironically appeared during a scene of violent destruction in the war movie "Good Morning, Vietnam." Here, the song served as a tool of shame, showing the viewers how humanity destroys the very creation that it enjoys. In the wake of the movie, Armstrong's international popularity soared, some 16 years after his death.

The problem is, he got it all wrong.

You know the song, right? It begins with a simple piano scale. Then, his familiar gravelly voice sings:

I see trees of green, red roses too.
I see them bloom, for me and you.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

It's a simple song, and that's the beauty of it. That's why people flock to it. It dismisses complex cultural issues of the day and tells us to focus instead on the beauty of creation. Unfortunately, its simplicity is its downfall. It comes close to the best message, but it only skims the surface. The song is a mite too shallow.

Instead of "What a Wonderful World," it should be "What a Wonderful God."

Let me explain. I love the sight of giant Hawaiian rainbows. I marvel at the beauty of a mountain forest just after a pure snowfall. In creation, there's nothing I enjoy more than a vibrant Arizona sunset. However, it's not the creation that's wonderful, but God who created it. Look at the second verse of the song:

I see skies of blue, clouds of white.
Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

Try this experiment: If you remove all the words that describe the beautiful scenery, what remains? You'll see that the core of the song is propped up by "I see" and "I think." You'll discover the same thing in other verses, also including "I hear."

Now ask yourself these questions: Why do you see these wonderful things? Why do you hear these wonderful sounds? How is it that you have the capacity to think about or comprehend the beauty of the world? There's a two-fold answer.

First, you see it because God created it. God is infinitely great, and He wants us to recognize that in creation. In Psalm 8:3, David consciously considers God as he looks at creation. He sings, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained..." On a clear night, you can look up and see 5,000 stars in the sky. If you have a telescope, you can see about two million. If you go to an observatory, you can see over a billion. Consider this thought—God created it all, and merely with His fingers!

Second, you see it because God created you to see it. God could have kept all these sights and sounds from you. Instead, He gave you sight, hearing, and other senses to enjoy His creation. He isn't stingy. He shares all of this with you.

Hopefully, you're asking the same question David asked in the next verse of Psalm 8. "What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?" We should recognize that we are so incredibly small in comparison to God—hardly a speck of dust. But God takes thought of you and me. God cares for us. No matter how tough things get for us, this fact remains. Remember it.

And next time you hear Satchmo singing that song, go ahead and sing along. But change the chorus to: "And I think to myself, what a wonderful God!"