Photo by Levi Meir Clancy
Matt Redman is a household name, humbly beginning with his band Soul Survivor at the ripe old age of 15. He left his band to pursue his solo career, releasing 14 studio albums and 4 live albums. This doesn’t include compilation albums.
He won numerous awards, including two Grammy’s, ten Dove’s, and one Cranmer Award for his work.
Also, check out my other Matt Redman reviews, including The Heart of Worship, Wonderful Maker, Mercy, Better is One Day, Blessed Be Your Name, and 10,000 Reasons.
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.
1. What message does the song communicate?
Despite Redman’s present tribulations, he recognizes that God’s love and Presence enable him to live without fear. God will neither leave nor forsake Redman. While Redman awaits the day that Jesus comes back, where he will no longer experience war, suffering or pain, he will continue to build his personal relationship with God and worship Him.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
Much of this song quotes from Scripture correctly while the rest promotes Biblical ideas.
This song does not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge format. Therefore, I assigned stanzas to each paragraph.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Stanza 1]
Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle
Of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back; I know You are near
A great combination of Psalm 23:4 and 1 John 4:18. God’s love enables Redman to remain unafraid amid trials. One way He shows that is by being with Redman throughout his life (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).
[Stanza 2]
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?
Another awesome Scripture combination, this time, with Psalm 23:4 and Psalm 27:1 alongside “God’s Presence” Scriptures stated in Stanza 1 to make the same point as Stanza 1 in a different way.
[Stanza 3]
O no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go – Lord, You never let go of me
God will neither leave nor forsake Redman (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Samuel 12:22, 1 Chronicles 28:20, and Hebrews 13:5).
[Stanza 4]
And I can see a light that is coming
For the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
Redman knows that one day, Jesus, who is represented as a light (John 1:1-8, John 8:12, and Ephesians 5:14) and will come again (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15). The next line provides the reason why I interpret “light” as Jesus instead of something like “hope”.
And there will be an end to these troubles
Revelation 21:1-4 and Revelation 22:3-5 gives us a few details of troubles that will cease, including pain, darkness, mourning, and death.
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth
As we wait patiently for the second coming of Christ, we desire to know God personally, relationally (John 15:1-11, Acts 17:27, Romans 8:15, Romans 11:16-24, and Philippians 3:8-10).
[Stanza 5]
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?
Repeats Stanza 2.
[Stanza 6]
O no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go – Lord, You never let go of me
Repeats Stanza 3.
[Stanza 7]
Yes, I can see a light that is coming
For the heart that holds on
Repeats Stanza 4, lines 1 and 2.
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Repeats Stanza 4, lines 4 and 5.
Still I will praise You
Regardless of what Redman goes through, he will praise God. Habakkuk 3:17-19 succinctly exemplifies this concept.
Still I will praise You
Repeats line 5.
[Stanza 8]
Yes, I can see a light that is coming
For the heart that holds on
And there will be an end
To these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You
Still I will praise You
Repeats Stanza 7.
[Stanza 9]
O no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go – Lord, You never let go of me, yeah
O, You never let go, You never let go
Essentially repeats Stanza 3.
[Stanza 10]
O no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go – Lord, You never let go of me
Essentially repeats Stanza 3.
[Stanza 11]
You never let, You never let go
You never let go of me
Repeats parts of Stanza 3, line 5.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Despite this song’s heavy reliance on Christianese language and quotations from the Bible, unbelievers should be able to comprehend the general gist of this song’s message. Redman walks in darkness? Check. God helps him through his issues? Check. Christians will enjoy a pain-free life for all eternity? Check. Personal relationship with God? Check. The “light that is coming” is Jesus? I’m not as confident that they will make the connection. Light, as represented as hope, might be a more likely explanation to them.
Score: 9/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God that this song describes God’s Presence and lovingkindness towards Redman makes for fertile soil for their personal relationship alongside Redman’s worship of God.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Matt Redman’s You Never Let Go is awesome. Redman remains undeterred and unafraid amid personal trials and tribulations, sensing that God is with him. While he looks forward to the day where Christ returns, leaving behind pain, suffering, and death, he will continue to build on his personal relationship with God and will worship Him. These glorify God. While unbelievers might interpret the returning light as hope and not specifically Jesus, they should be able to piece together the rest.
I highly recommend it for corporate worship.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: You Never Let Go (listen to the song)
Artist: Matt Redman
Album: Beautiful News
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2006
Duration: 4:48
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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