William Charles Fry

“The Lily Of The Valley” is a Christian hymn written by William Charles Fry for the Salvation Army on December 29, 1881.

Fry found his inspiration in writing this hymn after reading these words. “‘I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys.’ Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.”
— Song of Solomon 2:1-4 [NKJ]

To Fry, Jesus was both the “beloved” in Song of Solomon, as well as, the lily of the valley. He wrote this hymn while being employed by the Salvation Army. The tune was later adapted from the son “Little Old Log Cabin” and composed by William Hayes.

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Sources: Diana Leagh Matthews + Flickr - Jesewg

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

The song “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" was written by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm with lead vocals by Taya Smith. It was released on 10 September 2013 as Hillsong United's second single from their album, Zion and became the longest-running No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart. Billboard later named it as the No.1 song on the Hot Christian Songs chart for 2014.

Hillsong’s arrangement is quite different from the majority of contemporary Christian songs. Its orchestration slowly builds in both ambient and expansive sound. The symbolic lyrics define the desire for a stronger faith, one described as trust without borders. A real faith for all who call and hope upon their saviour.

The biblical description of this type of faith is contained in Matthew 14:23-33. By faith, Peter moved beyond what would seem possible for anyone on the water.

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Sources: Wikipedia + Metro Youth Network + Hillsong Movie + Unsplash - Caleb Georg

Zack Williams’ Story

Zach Williams was in college before he learned how to play any music. He taught himself how to play his college roommate’s guitar. Only after he had been laid up in his room with a bad ankle injury. From that point on he immediately fell in love with music.

Eventually, Zach ended up in a Southern Rock band. Shortly after going into the studio to record the band’s first album, his career just seemed to take off. The band got a booking agent in Europe and booked a month long tour all across France, Belgium and Spain. Although with this seemingly desirable lifestyle, over time, came a lot of bad choices. 

In Zach’s own words he says, “Even though I grew up going to church every Sunday as a kid, even though I knew right from wrong and said I was a Christian, there was absolutely nothing about the way I was living that reflected these things. It took a trip to Europe in 2012 to stop me dead in my tracks and show me just how lost I really was.” Then, after hearing a song by Big Daddy Weave called “Redeemed,” Zach’s faith became real to him. He called his wife to tell her he was quitting the band and joining the church they had been visiting.

Out of his experience, four years later Zach crafted his first single “Chain Breaker” from his newly released self-titled album. It’s a real southern rock gem about what Jesus did for him and could do for you. One that you might find yourself singing along too.

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Sources: Zach Williams Music + Leero

Revelation Song

When I first heard Kari Jobe’s “Revelation Song,”  it was the live online version from the Passion 2013 conference in Atlanta, GA. It’s a song written by Jennie Riddle and subsequently included on Kari Jobe’s self-titled album.

At Passion 2013 Kari delivered both a powerful and uplifting performance of this beautiful song. Still, for me, the most moving part of this contemporary song has to be the simple lyrical phrases adapted from Revelation. Some of which included: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain / Sing a new song to Him who sits on / Heaven's mercy seat (Rev 5:9) / Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty / Who was and is and is to come (Rev 4:8) / With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings (Rev 5:13 and Rev 19:16).

If you’re a believer in need of some encouragement, I’d recommend looking up this performance to witness an auditorium full of young people singing heartfelt praise together with Kari.

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Sources: Wikipedia + Littlefield Productions

Away in a Manger

This well-known song was first published in the late nineteenth century. While some consider it to be the work of Martin Luther, it is now widely believed to be a work of unknown origin.

Fred Gealy (1894-1976) writes that the lyrics were probably written in the mid-1800s by an anonymous American. The music was composed by a J. E. Clark. Afterward, the music director of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, a man named Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, published a new version of the hymn that included the third verse.

Whoever may have written the original version, “Away in a Manger” remains to this day one of the most beloved Christmas songs for believers.

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Sources: Discipleship Ministries + Pexels - Rasmus Svinding

George Strait

“You’ll Be There” is a song performed by George Strait on his 2005 album “Somewhere Down in Texas.” Every time Strait performs this song he thinks of Jenifer, his 13-year-old daughter, who was killed in a tragic car accident. It happened late one night when the driver of a Ford Mustang lost control after taking a turn too fast and Jenifer, not wearing her seatbelt, was thrown through an open window. She died right where she fell.

In an interview with USA Today, Strait said, “I’m a religious person. I honestly believe we will see each other in heaven someday,” he says. “I wanted to do the song badly. The writer, Cory Mayo, held that song out because he knew I wanted to do it, and he waited until I had the chance. It was kind of him to do that.”

Now if you’ve ever lost a loved one, it would be hard for you, not to shed tears after hearing such a beautiful song.

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Sources: Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation + Keith Carter + Martin Ezequiel Sanchez

Brooke Fraser

One of the highlights of “This Is Our God,” the seventeenth contemporary worship album from Hillsong Church, would have to be “You’ll Come” by Brooke Fraser. In 2008 it was recorded live in front of over 10,000 worshippers and opened at No. 2 Top 50 Albums in Australia.

New Zealand native Fraser based her song on Hosea 6:1-3, a story of those who strayed far from the Lord. Then in their despair resolve to wait on the Lord and his loving kindness, confident that He will indeed come and restore them. “You’ll Come” is the kind of uplifting praise and worship song that easily resonates with believers… worth hearing this Christmas.

Fraser doesn’t just sing about her faith. In 2006, she and her husband adopted a Rwanda orphan named Albertine, about whom she wrote one of her most popular songs. “Albertine,” the same titled album, went double platinum in 2006. In between concerts she still devotes much of her time to fund-raising for African children, displaced by genocide.

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Sources: SlideShare - John Wible + Scott Ligertwood + Unsplash - Heather Dou

Nichole’s Wide Eyed

Nichole Nordeman has memories of her mom playing the piano, singing songs, and encouraging her and her brother to sing along. It’s this time with her mom, she remembered developing a real love for Christian music. She then spent almost her entire childhood at a Christian school. While Nordeman’s thankful for this kind of education, she has come to realize the drawback to being raised so isolated.

On “Wide Eyed” from the 1998 album of the same name, Nordeman confesses her own struggle with the condemnation and her short-sighted judgment of others who thought differently from herself. The very same struggle most of us share in the world today, whether raised in a Christian school as a believer or not.

Shouldn’t we be the ones who offer grace in our world without condemnation? As a wise man once said, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Sources: YouTube + Unsplash - George Bohunicky & Alexandre Chambon

Bruce Springsteen

“Jesus Was An Only Son” is a passionate Bruce Springsteen song with two points of view from the 2005 album “Devils & Dust.“ It details human emotions, as His blood was being spilled, on Calvary Hill.

One view, a mournful wish for a different fate in the garden of Gethsemane. A second view, the relationship between Jesus and his mother, as foretold by Simeon to Mary in the gospel of Luke 2:35, “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Springsteen’s heartfelt lyrics include:

Mary’s former prayer — ‘A mother prays, Sleep tight, my child, sleep well for I'll be at your side… that no shadow, no darkness, no tolling bell, shall pierce your dreams this night.’

Jesus’ yearning — ‘In the garden at Gethsemane he prayed for the life he'd never live, he beseeched his Heavenly Father to remove the cup of death from his lips…’

Death’s cost — ‘Now there's a loss that can never be replaced, a destination that can never be reached, a light you'll never find in another's face, a sea whose distance cannot be breached…’

Transformation’s destiny — ‘Well Jesus kissed his mother's hands, whispered, Mother, still your tears, for remember the soul of the universe willed a world and it appeared.’

I think Springsteen had it right in his own summation, “The choices we make are given meaning by the things that we give up, by the things that we sacrifice with them. That’s what gives them weight, and meaning.”

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Sources: VH1 Storytellers + Nepascene + Gertrude Käsebier

Matt Redman

Matt Redman’s popular Christian album, “10,000 Reasons,” peaked at No. 1 on the US Christian Album chart for three straight years from 2011 to 2013.

The title song on this album, “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)” is probably one of the fastest songs Redman has ever written.” Redman estimated it took less than an hour to create. When Jonas, his friend, played its melody during one of their songwriting sessions, Redman with guitar in hand, began singing the verse Bless the Lord, Oh my soul from Psalm 103. After that, the remaining lyrics just flowed from him.

In Redman’s own words, this particular song almost didn’t make on the album, ‘I thought, “Oh, that’s a bit simple, it’s a bit folksy,’ he recalls. ‘It doesn’t have a pre-chorus, it doesn’t have a bridge.” That’s how silly I am. We had, like, 20 songs to choose from. Hand on heart, without a team around me, I may not have put that on.’

But the song soon gained traction, more than justifying its inclusion on the album. ‘It seemed like the song was connecting with people,’ he says. ‘I think some of the songs that have traveled around the most with us, I had no clue when I was writing it; had no clue when I was recording it. Sometimes you just write your heart out, record it and just see what God does with it.’ 

See for yourself what God has done with “10,000 Reasons” by viewing an online video showing thousands of people openly praising God in the middle of New York’s Time Square on August 1, 2016.

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Sources: Premier + Unsplash - Valentina Aleksandrovna

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder was a child prodigy and Michigan native who signed with Motown at age 11. Stevie became a devout Christian who got his start in music at church. To this day, his faith plays strongly into life and music. One great example is the song “As” from the 1976 album “Songs in the Key of Life,” the Grammy award winner for “Album of the Year.” This same album was preserved into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which credited it for being “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.”

Here’s some of the inspirational lyrics from “As” / We all know, sometimes life’s hates and troubles / Can make you wish you were born in another time and space / But you can bet you life times that and twice its double / That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed / so make sure when you say you’re in it, but not of it / You’re not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell / Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love / And maybe our children’s grandchildren / And their great-great grandchildren will tell / I’ll be loving you.

According to Wonder, God gave him the ability and opportunity to rise to the top in the music industry despite his considerable handicaps. He said many years ago, some people would say, ‘Well, you have three strikes against you: You’re black, you’re blind and you’re poor.’ But God said to me, ‘I will make you rich in the spirit of inspiration, to inspire others as well as create music to encourage the world to a place of oneness and hope and positivity.’ I believed Him and not them.

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Sources: Hollowverse + Saintheron + LoboStudio Hamburg + Dominik Schröder

Johnny Cash Redeemed

Johnny Cash credited both Nick Lowe and Nick’s then-wife Carlene Carter with bringing him a song they said belonged to him. When Johnny first heard it, he did indeed know it belonged to him. “Redemption,” was released on Johnny’s “American Recordings” album in 1994. 

On this song, Johnny sang unapologetically Christian lyrics, “The blood gave life to the branches of the tree / And the blood was the price that set the captives free / And the numbers that came through the fire and flood / Clung to the tree and were redeemed by the blood.”

You should know that Johnny’s connection to the song came from his earlier drug-filled life in the music industry. In his own words, “I believe what I say, but that don’t necessarily make me right," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 2000. “There’s nothing hypocritical about it. There is a spiritual side to me that goes real deep, but I confess right up front that I’m the biggest sinner of them all.” 

Here was an honest man who truly believed in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate purpose for God’s redemption!

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Sources: Christianity Today + ABC Television/Getty Images + Justin Laberge

U2

You probably know by now how much I adore symbolism. It’s one of the things I admire most about the biblical parables and scripture in general. My belief is that symbols are given by God’s Spirit to help show eternal truths that would, otherwise, not easily be understood. Within the proper context of a story, symbols can become wonderfully illustrative.

The song “Magnificent” by U2, released in 2009, provides both symbolism along with a shimmering guitar and iron-horse bass I can’t help but love. Its rich lyrical symbolism includes: Magnificent — The Magnificat [Latin: magnifies], also called the Canticle of Mary, is recorded in the Gospel of Luke (1:46-55); I was born to be with you (Psalm 139:13); only love can heal such a scar (John 15:13 + John 20:24-29); I was born to sing for you (Psalm 96:1-2); my first cry, it was a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4): Justified till we die (Acts 13:38-39).

Maybe Bono, the lead singer for U2, had it right when he said, “All the best songs are co-written by God, ya know!”

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Sources: Patheos + Sistine Chapel + Pexels - Markus Spiske

God’s Sovereignity

Although I’ve always enjoyed and admired the artistry of a wide variety of music and songs, it’s pretty rare to be so emotionally connected to one after first hearing it. For me, Nichole Nordeman’s song “I Am” is one of those rare exceptions. When I heard it and several times afterward, the tears just flowed. Without a doubt, it’s the absolute jewel on her 2002 album “Woven & Spun.”

In her own words, “’I Am’ is similar to ‘Every Season’ in that the bottom-line message is God’s sovereignty throughout the passage of time and circumstance.” “And, you know, our lives change so much and who we need God to be changes on a dime and somehow, He continues to steadfastly say, “I Am. I Am. I Am.” and puts the period right there after those two small words. For me, that is still hard to sort of wrap my mind around, but I am incredibly grateful.”

While Nichole’s third album “Woven & Spun” may not be her best... this song may well be. I can't recommend it highly enough!

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Sources: CBN + Unsplash - Volkan Olmez

Robbie Robertson

From the self-titled solo album by Robbie Robertson, “Showdown At Big Sky” reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1987. This album won the Juno Award for “Album of the Year,” while both producers Daniel Lanois and Robertson won “Producer of the Year.”

People have reacted to “Showdown at Big Sky” in a variety of ways due to its rich symbolism and the listener’s viewpoint. From a Christian view some of the lyrical symbols include; darkness at high noon (Matthew 27:45), that day may be soon (Revelation 22:20), all you believers (1 Peter 2:4-8) standing inside this room (John 14:1-4), the valley of tears (Isaiah 25:7-8), in the Book of David (Revelation 22:16), children of Eden (Genesis 4), and the Holy Ghost (Mark 1:7-8). Last but not least, in the refrain, Robertson sings about people hearing, in every village and every town, bells ringing out. As a child, I can still remember hearing bells at a small country church ringing out, calling those nearby together for worship.

Understandably, some will see meaning in this song as a possible world war being waged and fought by theists, while Christian’s will see it as the ultimate battle of good and evil that can only be fought and won by God’s Son… not us.

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Imagery Sources: Mirza Gaush Beg + Zachary Staines

Please Come

Yet another brilliant song from one of the top contemporary artists and CMA Dove Award winner Nichole Nordeman. “Please Come” was released in 2000 on Nordeman’s “This Mystery” album.

Rich with symbolism, she sings of God’s open invitation to the world (John 3:16), His banquet (Luke 14:15-24) and an open door for those who have kept His word, and have not denied His name (Revelation 3:7-8). Nordeman again displays considerable talent in her songwriting, revealing both herself and her faith.

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Source: Unsplash - Kevin Hansen

Robert Grant

Being a high achiever during his lifetime, Robert Grant was admitted to the bar in 1807 after finishing his higher education. The following year, the 29-year-old won a seat in the English Parliament.

Remaining in Parliament for several years as a politician and public servant, Robert was deeply concerned with social issues. Through persistent effort he eventually passed a bill which emancipated England’s Jews.

After the Parliament, Robert accepted a high position in the East India Company. During his time in India he was soon asked to be governor of Bombay, and true to his nature, he accepted. As governor, he had the opportunity to improve the poverty and spiritual condition of the common people.

Although busy with social concerns much of his life, Robert still managed to pen “O Worship the King,” one of the greatest hymns in the English language. This hymn was written under the inspiration of both the Holy Spirit and Psalm 104:1-7.

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Sources: Christianity.com + Then Sings My Soul

Traditional

“Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” is a popular Christian hymn written in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel. The song is often recorded unattributed because of its age it has lapsed into the public domain.

The version I’m familiar with is from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with modified lyrics attributed to A. P. Carter, Traditional. These lyrics involve the death, funeral, and mourning for the narrator's mother.

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Sources: Wikipedia + FWStudio

Sting

One of my all time favorite songs of redemption, with plenty of dual symbolism, comes from a surprising source. It’s a song written by a professed Agnostic named Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (alias Sting). Although the former band member of “The Police” professes not to know the reality of God’s existence, he nonetheless understands just what Jesus embodies for all who do believe in God’s salvation. And to think from Sting, one who embraces the mystery of the universe, would come such a hopeful song!

“Dead Man’s Rope” is included on “Sacred Love,” his seventh studio album.

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Source: Hollywood Journal

Joachim Neander

Published in 1680, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” is a magnificent hymn of praise to God based on Joachim Neander’s German hymn “Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren.” 

Neander was a German preacher and one of the finest hymn writers in the German speaking church since the Reformation. In his early years, he lived lust-filled life, as a man apart from God. Then he and a group of friends decided to attend a service conducted by Pastor Under-Eyke with the full intention of mocking both him and the congregation. That night to his surprise, Neander left a changed soul.

In his lifetime Neander wrote 60 hymns, and of this particular hymn he penned at age 30 while dying from tuberculosis. His lyrics show how small we are in this universe and just how big God is, was and will always be. Neander believed that in all situations, whether good or bad, God could always be praised.

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Sources: Faithlife + Kaushik Panchal