But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king.
Jeremiah 10:10, King James Version
What does the living God mean?
To call God the living God is to say He is not a carving. He is not a story. He is not a name we remember from our grandparents. He is alive, He acts, and He answers.
The Bible uses this name when it wants to draw a line between God and everything else people worship. Psalm 115 describes idols that have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear. Then Jeremiah 10:10 says it plainly. The Lord is the true God. He is the living God.
The name shows up at the big moments. David uses it when he faces Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:26. Who is this man, that he should defy the armies of the living God? A pagan king uses it in Daniel 6:26, after God shut the mouths of the lions. And Peter uses it in Matthew 16:16, when he finally sees who Jesus is. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Baba and Eze: Father and King in two Nigerian tongues
The chorus of this song uses two words from two languages. Baba is the Yoruba word for father, and you will hear it in churches across Nigeria, whatever language the service is in. Eze is the Igbo word for king. You can read more about Eze on the Ebube Dike page.
Put together, the chorus says Father, King, You are the living God. It is close to what Jesus taught us to pray. Our Father, which art in heaven. Thy kingdom come.
Lily of the valley, Rose of Sharon, Lion and Lamb
The third verse gathers some of the oldest titles the church has given to Jesus.
Lily of the valley and Rose of Sharon. These words come from the Song of Songs 2:1, where they are spoken by the beloved. For centuries, Christian hymns have sung them over Jesus as pictures of His beauty, the flower that grows in low places.
Lion of the tribe of Judah. Revelation 5:5. John is told that the Lion of Judah has overcome and is worthy to open the scroll.
Lamb that was slain. Revelation 5:6. But when John turns to look at the Lion, he sees a Lamb that had been slain. The same Jesus is both. Strong enough to conquer, willing to be sacrificed.
The scriptures behind the verses
My eyes have seen and my ears have heard. Job 42:5. After all his suffering, Job says, I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.
You walk on the sea. Job 9:8 says God treads on the waves of the sea, and in Matthew 14 Jesus does exactly that.
You hold the morning in Your hand. In Job 38:12 God asks Job, have you ever commanded the morning?
The deep places answer when You call. Psalm 42:7. Deep calls unto deep.
Jehovah Shammah and Jehovah Shalom. The Lord is there, from Ezekiel 48:35, and the Lord is peace, the name Gideon gave his altar in Judges 6:24. More names of God are explained on the Call His Name page.
What the song is about
The Living God is a worship song of testimony. The singer has seen God act, and cannot stop talking about it. It moves from personal praise to God's power over the sea and the morning. Then it gathers His great names together, Hebrew titles and the old hymn titles of Jesus. It lays them all before Baba, Eze, the living God.
The Living God gathers the great names of Jesus into one worship song. Daalu by Michael CU is out on 3 November 2026.
A prayer to the living God
Baba, Eze, Father and King, You are not an idol made with hands. You see, You hear and You act. Thank You for the mighty deeds my eyes have seen. You are the Lion who conquers and the Lamb who was slain for me. I give You glory today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Listen
The Living God is out now. Press play, and save it to your library so it is there when you need it.
Play on SpotifyApple MusicAmazon MusicAll platforms
It is also track 14 on the album Daalu, out 3 November 2026. Pre-save the album
The Living God lyrics
Baba sounds like BAH bah. Eze sounds like EH zeh.
IntroBaba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Baba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Verse 1You are good
You are kind
You are everything to me
My eyes have seen
And my ears have heard
And my mouth will speak of your many mighty deeds
PrechorusFor you are excellent
Eh
Marvellous
Eh
The one and only God
ChorusBaba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Baba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Verse 2You are strong
You are near
You are everything to me
You walk on the sea
You hold the morning in your hand
And the deep places answer when you call
PrechorusFor you are excellent
Eh
Marvellous
Eh
The one and only God
ChorusBaba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Baba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Verse 3Lily of the valley
Rose of Sharon
You are everything to me
Lion of the tribe of Judah
Lamb that was slain
There is no one, there is no one like you
BridgeElohim
You are God
Jehovah Shammah
You are here
Jehovah Shalom
You are peace
Baba eh
You are everything to me
Elohim
You are God
Jehovah Shammah
You are here
Jehovah Shalom
You are peace
Baba eh
You are the living God
ChorusBaba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Baba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
TagBaba
Eze
Baba
You are the living God
OutroBaba eh
Eze
Baba eh eh
You are the living God
Baba eh
For choirs and worship leaders
The Living God sits well in a worship set, slow enough for a congregation to sing every line. Your choir is welcome to use it. The lyric sheet is free. Just message @michaelukwuma on Facebook, Instagram or X and tell me where it was sung.