July 17, 2011. Our first worship song this Sunday is “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman. It comes from the 2002 Album, “Where Angels Fear to Tread.” Matt says of this song, Blessed Be Your Name is a declaration of something which we've both (referring to his wife, Beth) found to be true in the tough seasons of life. To worship God and trust Him no matter what will always be the best path to take.”
Matt’s recording of the song reflects the barrenness of a desert, perhaps in Africa where Matt has ministered and which he might well have experienced firsthand.
Matt Redman and his family are based in Brighton, England where they are part of St Peters, a new church planted out of HTB (Holy Trinity Brompton,) a vibrant Anglican Church in London. They are excited about the challenge of working in a city which is currently one of the most unchurched in the UK. Previously they were part of Passion City Church in Atlanta, USA with pastors Louie and Shelley Giglio, and continue to work alongside the Passion movement.
Matt has been leading worship full-time since the age of 20 and this journey has taken him to countries such as South Africa, Japan, India, Australia, Germany, Uganda, Croatia and the Czech Republic. His early compositions include The Heart of Worship, Better is One Day and Once Again. More recent songs have included Blessed Be Your Name and You Never Let Go, both written with wife Beth and encouraging us to worship God through the storms of life.
Matt doesn’t say upon which scripture he specifically wrote the song, but perhaps he was thinking of Job 1:20-21 which states,
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job makes this statement at a similar time to one Matt describes, except to a much greater degree as Job, a wealthy and blessed man by all accounts, has just learned that his sons and daughters have been killed and all his animals either stolen or burned up.
Job is further tested and questions God about the tests but ultimately learns that the important question is not “what” or “why” but “who.” Who is in control of all things? Job, Matt and each of us learn that ultimately, God is in control of all things. That is the most important thing you can know because you can rely on Him implicitly. If you are able to hold onto that one eternal fact, then no matter what the storms of life may be, you can say with Job, and Matt, “blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The full text of Matt’s lyrics follows:
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
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