Song Devotional - The Scriptural Basis and Theology Behind "10,000 Reasons"

10,000 reasons was written by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin.  The song was the title track to Redman's eighth album that came out in 2012.  In regards to writing the songs, including the title track, Redman said to Worship Leader Magazine, "He (Jonas Myrin) played me an idea for some of the chorus melody, and I found it immediately inspiring. In fact, it felt like a perfect fit for a song based on the opening of Psalm 103. 

The song came together really quickly - a good chunk of the song was actually a spontaneous moment. I have no idea why some songs take months of writing and re-writing (like 'Blessed Be Your Name') and others arrive really swiftly (like this one). One thing I've realized over the years is there's no distinct rule that says that something composed quickly must therefore be more spiritual or inspired! Yes, God-breathed inspired worship songs can at times be written very quickly and spontaneously—but at other times they've involved a lot of perseverance, perspiration, and hard work!"

As Matt alluded to in the above quote, this song is based on Psalm 103 written by the psalmist, David.  This psalm is simply an outpouring of worship to the Lord from David's heart because of everything He has done for him, and in reality, for us as well.  Both this song written by Matt Redman and the psalm written by King David start off with the words "Bless the Lord, O my soul."  For me, this is somewhat of an intriguing phrase.  How do we bless the Lord?  Blessings are what we receive from Him when He gives us favor, or protection, or help, or His provisions.  In that regard, there's no way we can "bless the Lord."  In His holiness, we can't give Him our favor when our favor is tainted with sin.  We can't offer protection to the Omnipotent One.  We can't offer help to the Sovereign One.  We can't provide for the One who "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10)  So, what exactly does the psalmist mean when he says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul"?  

I think we gain a better understanding of the praise David is offering to the Lord as we examine why he is offering this.  I encourage you before you read on in this post to stop and read through Psalm 103 (click here to read).  This passage is full of reasons we have to worship our Creator and Savior!  David is saying "Bless the Lord, O my soul" as an expression of worship, praise, thanks, and acknowledgement for all of the blessings that he has received from the Lord.  Worship, as defined by Redman in his book, "The Heart of Worship Files", is a response to a revelation.  As we see God for who He is, all that He has done for us, and all that He has promised us, our response should be to worship Him and bless Him with our words, our hearts and our lives.  Here are the reasons David lists in Psalm 103 as to why his heart cries, "Bless the Lord, O my soul":

• He forgives us. (vs. 3)

• He heals us. (vs. 3)

• He redeems us. (vs. 4)

• He shows us love and mercy. (vs. 5)

• He gives His righteousness to those who are unrighteous. (vs. 6)

• He is merciful and gracious. (vs. 7)

• He is slow to anger and full of love. (vs. 8)

• He doesn't deal with us according to our sin. (vs. 10)

• He doesn't give us what we deserve because of our sins. (vs. 10)

• He is comassionate. (vs. 13)

• He keeps His word and His promises even in our humanistic state. (vs. 14-18)

• He is our King. (vs. 19)

And so we sing...

"Bless the Lord O my soul! Worship His holy name.

Sing like never before O my soul! I'll worship Your holy name."

Because of everything Jesus has done for us, our hearts should be so full with thanksgiving and praise, that we sing like never before every Sunday (or every day for that matter) in worship to our King!  Yes, each day we sing to Jesus should be louder, more emphatic, and more passionate than the day before!

"The sun comes up it's a new day dawning. It's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me; Let me be singing 

when the evening comes."

This can be a prayer we start every day with.  Understanding the fact that our lives are simply a, "...mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes"  (James 4:14), we should live each day for His glory.  Ephesians 1:3-6 and 2:4-7 tells us that God has predestined us for adoption and has raised us up with Him for a purpose.  We are called into communion with Him, not just for our benefit, but for a purpose.  Realizing that each day is a gift from Him and that He has a purpose for our lives, our prayer should be that each day we sing the song of His goodness.  We also, "...know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).  So, whatever may pass and whatever lies before us, we can continue to sing and praise our God because He is sovereign and He is in control! 

"You're rich in love and You're slow to anger.  Your name is great and Your heart is kind.  

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing 10,000 reasons for my heart to find."

In this verse, Matt Redman mentions a few reasons from Psalm 103 to worship the Lord and bless His name.  However, He also reminds us that even Psalm 103 just touches the surface of the 10,000+ reasons our heart and lives can bless the Lord.  

"And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near, and my time has come; 

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending 10,000 years and then forevermore!"

Here Matt Redman hints at the promise of eternity with Jesus that we have through salvation in Him.  This verse becomes a prayer for consistency in our lives.  May we have the same lifestyle of worship now until Jesus calls us home!  Redman also points to the beloved hymn John Newton wrote in 1779, "Amazing Grace", with the reference to 10,000 years: "When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we've first begun."  How awesome will it be to be in the very presence of Jesus and be able to sing His praise 10,000 years and then forevermore?!

So this Sunday as you sing, or tomorrow for that matter, let's sing and worship louder, with more enthusiasm, and more passion than ever before!  And as you go throughout your days, there will be times that you forget the goodness of Jesus in your life.  In those times, when things seem dark or distant, ask the Lord to bring Psalm 103 to your mind.  Read that passage and cry out with the psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul". Then join Matt Redman and declare, "For all Your goodness I will keep on singing 10,000 reasons for my heart to find!"

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Song Devotional - The Scriptural Basis and Theology Behind "Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)"

"Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)" was released by Kari Jobe in 2014 on her album titled "Majestic".  She co-wrote this song with Brian Johnson and a few others.  This song has become widely known, performed, and led in churches across the country.  It's a fantastic song that clearly paints a picture of the gospel, the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and the victory He now holds as the Conqueror of death, hell, and the grave.

Jobe and the other writers based this song on Revelation 5:13, "And I heard every creature in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'"

As I have listened to and led this song over the last couple years, I continue to see what Scripture teaches about Jesus' accomplishment on the cross and the victory through His resurrection.  In Revelation 1:17-18 the apostle John writes, "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living One.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'"

"The moon and stars they wept. The morning sun was dead. The Savior of the world was fallen. His body on the cross. His blood poured out for us. The weight of every curse upon Him"

The song begins to paint the picture of Jesus hanging on the cross in His final moments of life.  While we don't read in scripture about the moon and stars actually weeping, we do read that creation was impacted and devastated by the death of Jesus.  As Jesus died, we read in Mark 15:33, "And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour."  Later in the song, Matthew 27:51 is referred to.  That passage tells us that, "...the earth shook and the rocks were split."  Creation was impacted and devastated by the death of it's Creator.  What about us today?  Are we truly impacted by the death of our Creator?

"One final breath He gave as heaven looked away. The Son of God was laid in darkness.

A battle in the grave; The war on death was waged. The power of hell forever broken."

Matthew 27:46 says, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"  As the weight of every curse was laid upon Jesus, bearing our sin, dying in our place, God the Father, in His holiness, had no choice but to turn His back on His Son and the sin that He bore. John 19:30 says, "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is Finished," and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."  It is finished, Tetelestai in Greek, is such a powerful statement of completion.  The sacrifice was made.  Jesus, the lamb of God, was dead.  Literally dead.  His heart stopped beating.  He stopped breathing.  He was dead.  Joseph of Arimathea was given persmission to take His body, prepare it for burial, and place it in a tomb.  The stone was rolled in front of the tomb by the order of the government and Jesus' body remained there 3 days.  But praise God, He didn't stay there...

"The ground began to shake; The stone was rolled away! His perfect love could not be overcome!  Now death, where is your sting? Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated!"

If Jesus had remained in that tomb, if He died like anyone else and stayed dead, then His death is no more significant than any other claimed "god".  Many others have walked this earth and claimed to god or a god.  They die just like everyone else and you can visit their graves today.  We can't visit Jesus' grave!  Now sure, you can visit the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.  But, honestly, that is just speculated to be Jesus' tomb.  You know why?  Because He isn't there!  By Jesus rising from the dead, we now have the proof that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for us!  Jefferson Bethke says, "The cross said, 'payment given', the resurrection says, 'payment accepted!'"  Jesus truly defeated death, defeated hell, and defeated the grave!  As those who put our faith and trust in Jesus and the good news of the gospel, we no longer have to fear death, hell, or the grave.  Paul tells us in Philippians 1:21, "...to die is gain."  We no longer have to fear death because when we die, we get to start to our eternity with Jesus!  1 Corinthians 15:54-57 says, "...'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."

Forever He is glorified!  Forever He is lifted high! 

Forever He is risen! He is alive!

It is Finished!  It's over!  It's done!  Jesus is forever risen!  He or anyone else will ever have to die for our sins again.  He proved that it's over and displayed His victory over sin by rising from the dead.  Now, He is forever glorified and lifted high!  Revelation chapter 4 paints a picture for us of those in Heaven worshiping the risen Savior.  Verse 8 tells that, "...day and night, they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'"  Verse 10 and 11 go on to tell us that they, "...fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him forever and ever.  They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.'"

"We sing hallelujah, the Lamb has overcome!"

Matthew 27:51a says, "And behold, the curtain of the the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom."  As Jesus died, the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holy's (where the presence of God literally dwelt) from the common places that people could access, was torn in two.  This miracle was God displaying that we now have open access to Him and His presence through the blood of Jesus.  So, as we accept Jesus as our Savior and believe that His sacrifice was sufficient as the atonement for our sins, we now can join the songs of Heaven we read about in Revelation.  

"Hallelujah" means "praise Yahweh".  So as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, the victory He displayed at the resurrection, and the victory we now have through Him, let's celebrate our Savior!  Let's sing Hallelujah, praise Yahweh, because the Lamb, our Savior, Jesus has overcome!