Sovereign Grace Music – O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer

Sovereign Grace Music, much like Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation Worship, is a church-based organization that releases their own music. Beginning in 1984, They released more than 50 albums!

Also, check out my reviews of Christ Our Treasure, All I Have Is Christ, Show Us Christ, He Is Worthy, Lord, Have Mercy, Let Your Kingdom Come, and Turn Your Eyes.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Sovereign-grace-music-o-lord-my-rock-and-my-redeemer-live-lyrics.

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?

Jesus is:

• Lord
• Foundation
• Liberator
• Desired
• Unique
• Gracious
• Loving
• Wise
• True
• Good
• Protector
• Weapon
• Repeats on Sovereign Grace Music’s singing lips
• Hope
• Joy
• Trustworthy
• Sovereign Grace Music’s atonement
• Alive
• Chain breaker

In response, Sovereign Grace Music surrenders to His ways, wishing to glorify Him.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song contains references to Scripture in spades.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: Later context tells us that this is about Jesus.  He is Lord (1 Timothy 6:15 and Revelation 19:16), Rock (Matthew 25:34, Ephesians 1:4, Titus 1:2, 1 Peter 1:19-20, Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8), and Redeemer (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:9, and 1 John 2:2).

Line 2: All other possessions are rubbish compared to Him (Philippians 3:8-10).

Line 3: There is no other like Him (Exodus 8:10, Exodus 9:14, Deuteronomy 3:24, Deuteronomy 33:26, Jeremiah 10:6, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:23, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalm 86:8, Psalm 89:6, Psalm 113:5-6, Jeremiah 10:7, Isaiah 40:18, and Isaiah 46:9).

Line 4: See line 2.

Line 5: Salvation is through grace, not works (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).

Line 6: By “Heavens”, Sovereign Grace Music references the atmosphere and outer space (Genesis 1:1). Yes, they declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and their existence makes it possible to live, but they will not love us as Christ does.

Line 7: This is so, because He is the truth (John 14:6) and is perfect (Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:24, John 19:4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 2:21-23, and 1 John 3:5).

Line 8: He is Good (1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19-20, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 135:3, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19) and Sovereign Grace’s Music desire (Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 2:29, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 7:10).

[Verse 2]

Line 1: Repeats Verse 1, line 1.

Line 2: He is Sovereign Grace Music’s defense (Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18).

Line 3: The sword of the Spirit, that is, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

Line 4: The shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).  Also, see line 2.

Line 5: Probably a reference to Psalms 27:6.

Line 6: He is hope amid sorrow (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6).

Line 7: He is their joy when enduring trials and tribulations, which produces perseverance, joy, and the perfect fruits of righteousness (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4).

Line 8: He is faithful.

[Verse 3]

Line 1: Repeats Verse 1, line 1.

Line 2: While they were sinners, Christ died for them (Romans 5:6-8).

Lines 3 and 4: Jesus paid the penalty for their lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Line 5: He resurrected (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) and defeated death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).

Line 6: He broke the chains of sin and shame (Psalm 116:16, Mark 5:8, Romans 6:20, and Galatians 5:1).

Lines 7 and 8: Repeats lines 5 and 6.  Just in case you missed this important truth the first time around.

[Outro]

Line 1: Repeats Verse 1, line 1.

Line 2: They will live in a manner that daily exalts His name (Psalm 145:1).

Line 3: Repeats line 2.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The word “Redeemer” in this song’s opening line should make it clear that it’s about Jesus.  However, if they didn’t get it within the litany of Christianese phrases and terminology, Verse 3 mentions the cross.  They will conclude that Sovereign Grace Music sings about a massive, meaty list of acts and attributes of Jesus, all of which should be understood with little research required.  Even sin, which is often understood as mere mistakes, is paired with shame.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the loving, gracious redeemer whose death and resurrection make the forgiveness of sins possible.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Sovereign Grace Music’s O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer is amazing. It contains a massive list of Christ’s acts and attributes. He the foundation of our faith, protects us from the evil one, provides us a weapon to vanquish our foe, and is our source of ultimate desire, joy, and wisdom. He paid the penalty for our lawbreaking and was resurrected on the third day, defeating death. These bring Him glory. Despite this song’s meaty substance, unbelievers should be able to piece together a similar interpretation with little effort.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Sovereign Grace Music

Album: Prayers of the Saints (Live)

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 2017

Duration: 4:07

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