Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
Worship and Bow Down
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To kneel before our maker
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
Come, let us worship the Lord
Come, let us worship and bow down
To kneel before our maker
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
Come, let us sing to the Lord
With joy to the God who saves us
Into His court with praise
Come, let us worship the Lord
Come, let us worship and bow down
To kneel before our maker
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
Come, let us worship the Lord
Today if you hear His voice
Harden not your hearts
Today is the day of salvation
Come, let us worship the Lord
Come, let us worship and bow down
To kneel before our maker
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
Come, let us worship the Lord
Come, let us worship and bow down
To kneel before our maker
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
Come, let us worship the Lord
Come, let us worship and bow down
To kneel before our maker
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
Come, let us worship the Lord
The song "Worship and Bow Down" by John Michael Talbot is a call to worship, inviting believers to come and kneel before God as His people, His sheep. The opening lines "Come, let us worship and bow down" express a sense of urgency and a desire to draw near to God in worship. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the importance of this act of worship and reinforces the idea that it is a communal act, something that believers do together.
The following lines "To kneel before our maker" shift the focus to God's role as the Creator, the one who made everything and holds ultimate authority over our lives. This reinforces the idea that worship is an act of surrender, acknowledging God as the one in control. The chorus repeats the opening lines and adds the phrase "Come, let us sing to the Lord," which expands the idea of worship to include singing praises to God.
The end of the song brings a call to action with the line "Today if you hear His voice, Harden not your hearts." This is a call to respond to God's invitation to worship and to not let anything hinder us from doing so.
Overall, "Worship and Bow Down" is a powerful invitation to come before God in worship, to acknowledge Him as the Creator and to respond to His invitation to draw near to Him.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, let us worship and bow down
Let us show devotion and respect by kneeling before our Creator
To kneel before our maker
To show reverence by bowing before the One who made us
We are the people, the sheep of His flock
We are the ones who belong to Him, like sheep belonging to a shepherd
Come, let us worship the Lord
Let us offer praise and adoration to our God
Come, let us sing to the Lord
Let us express our joy and gratitude to the One who saves us
With joy to the God who saves us
With happiness in our hearts, let us celebrate the God who rescues us
Into His court with praise
Let us enter His presence with thankful and worshipful words
Today if you hear His voice
If you receive His message today
Harden not your hearts
Do not resist or refuse His call
Today is the day of salvation
Today is the time to be saved and receive His grace
Contributed by Lincoln Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
talkinghead3
I think God has a new choirmaster! JMT is an awesome blessing to the church universal.
ScallywagSeaDog
I went to his retreat last year, it was awesome to hear him play in person.
monadh3361
God bless you brother. Your love for Jesus is clear in every song. Thank you for bringing me peace when it has been needed most.
Michael Fowler
So glad I found your music and your community. What a blessing.
Len Roberts
Such a wonderful song of worship. Thank you so much Bro. Talbot for such an excellent song to sing before the Lord.
C. G. MacBain
Beautiful and Blessed, thank you dear Brother John Michael...
really2ugly
Like all of your music, John - this was excellent. Thank you.
Cory Eckstrom
If the Gandalf look is distracting, just listen to his other songs... I first started listening to him in 1987. An excellent way to listen the Bible in song. Michael Card is another great Biblical singer.
Judith Grominger
His music continues to be a blessing to me many years later (first heard in 1982). He has grown out his hair as have done many other musicians, should not detract from the music he plays and sings so well.
Golden Flower
Cory Eckstrom Gandolf look, lol! Just love JMT!