Photo by Recal Media
CCM worship band Vertical Worship has a new live album coming out. On March 13, 2020, they will release Grace Is On Our Side, featuring GMA Dove-nominated Yes I Will. This hit single was previously released on their 2018 album Bright Faith, Bold Future and will be the subject of this Berean Test review.
As of this review, Vertical Worship received good Berean Test scores, ranging from above average to perfect. To see my previous four Vertical Worship reviews, select Spirit of the Living God, Found in You, Do What You Want To, or 1000 Tongues.
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?
Vertical Worship is certain about at least one thing: God does not fail us according to His will. Though they may be in a dark place and their heart is distraught, they choose to praise Jesus, the name above all names.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All lines are in alignment with the Bible.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse]
I count on one thing
The same God that never fails
Will not fail me now
You won’t fail me now
God will never leave, forsake, or fail those who are His (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 118:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Hebrews 13:5-6).
In the waiting
The same God who’s never late
Is working all things out
You’re working all things out
His timing is always perfect according to His will and desires (2 Peter 3:9).
[Chorus]
Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley
Yes I will, bless Your name
Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy
All my days, oh, yes I will
Vertical worship’s response of worship due to the truths expressed in Verse, referencing Psalm 23:4 in line 1 and Matthew 11:28-30 in line 3.
[Bridge]
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
More responsorial worship.
The Name of all names
That is, Jesus (Philippians 2:9).
That nothing can stand against
While Romans 8:38-39 gives us a laundry list of things that cannot separate us from God’s love, the word “nothing” succinctly captures the idea behind these two verses. It also answers Paul’s rhetorical question in Romans 8:35.
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
Repeats lines 1-4.
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
Repeats lines 1-4.
And I choose to praise
To glorify, glorify
The Name of all names
That nothing can stand against
Repeats lines 1-4.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Those who do not yet follow Jesus will find most of it easy to comprehend. Vertical Worship worships and glorifies God.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
Vertical Worship glorifies God in their praise and worship.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Vertical Worship’s Yes I Will is a simple song with a simple message. All should easily understand that God does not fail those who are His, His timing is perfect, and we worship Him in response, bringing Him glory.
I highly recommend this song for worship.
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: Yes I Will (listen to the song)
Artist: Vertical Worship
Album: Bright Faith Bold Future
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2018
Duration: 3:54
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2018 HBC Worship Music (ASCAP) All Essential Music (ASCAP) Upside Down Under (BMI) Be Essential Songs (BMI) Hickory Bill Doc (SESAC) So Essential Tunes (SESAC) Jingram Music Publishing (ASCAP) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
03/26/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement. I also decided that my criticism on misunderstanding God as “never late” was unfounded, removing it completely from all sections. I also raised all scores to 10, significantly increasing the song’s overall score, from 7/10 to 10/10.
Comments
Neal Cruco
I have to wonder: can we really blame Vertical Worship for making a song that could be misinterpreted this way? God will never fail us- that much is crystal clear. It is equally crystal clear that our definition of “failing us” is often narrow and distorted, which is why we think God has failed us when He really hasn’t. It seems to me that any song that covers this aspect of God could be subject to the same misinterpretation for the same reasons.
In other words: People can and do misinterpret the statement that God never lets us down, but it is still a true statement. That problem is present anytime that the statement is brought up. Is it really fair to penalize the song because this ambiguity exists?
Just some thoughts. I’m not sure what the answer is.
Vince Wright
Neal,
Thank you for your comments! I think a clearer way to represent this is by talking about something more specific that God has not failed. Something along the lines of “God has never failed to love us. He showed love on the cross” or “God has never failed to listen, even if He does not respond”. When it is generalized, it leaves a LOT of room for misinterpretation.
What do you think?
-Vince Wright
Neal Cruco
More detail is definitely better. As easily as this point is misinterpreted, we need to be very clear about what we mean by “God never fails us”, especially with non-Christians.
Vince Wright
Neal,
Agreed.
-Vince Wright
Keith
Neal Cruco….I completely agree! I find the song very scriptural…quite refreshing when compared to a lot of what is out there under the banner of “christian music”. I would say the authors rating of 7/10 and not recommended for worship falls woefully short. Just because lyrics could be considered as “open to interpretation” does not make them unbiblical or not sound for worship. Ny that same criteria the author would have to judge the Word the same way. The Word says what it says, regardless of how someone may interpret it in his/her head…but that doesnt change the true meaning. I agree with a lot of what the writers on this site say about a lot of “christian” music, absolutely! But in this case I respecfully disagree.
Alex Mendez
I agree with you as well Keith. This falls more on the listener. God’s Word stands alone.
racefangurl
Maybe it should just not be recommended for seeker sensitive services? Mature believers will understand what the milk crowd will misunderstand, so maybe just maybe the misunderstanding mentioned above’s a mistake most likely to happen with an unbeliever or even a baby Christian.
Taylor Pike
I liked this song a lot until one particular lyric jumped out at me.
Philippians 2 doesn’t say Jesus is the name “of” all names. It says Jesus is the name “above” all names. I know I’m nitpicking but you’ve done the same to a few other songs (not complaining!).
I know it flows better in the song but I don’t think they should’ve changed the word to do that. In my mind there’s a big difference between name “of” all names and name “above” all names.
Vince Wright
Taylor,
Thank you for your comments!
What is the difference between “Name of all names” and “Name above all names”?
-Vince Wright
Taylor Pike
Well the word “of” has more than one definition. I don’t believe any of them mean “above” like Philippians 2:9-11 says. I could be wrong though.
When I hear “Name above all names” I think of “being higher than.” When I hear “Name of all names” I think of “being a part of” which I guess one could make the argument that when Jesus came to Earth he was one of us (humanity).
Neal Cruco
Taylor,
Wiktionary offers the following definition for the phrase “of all”:
“Used as an intensifier with nouns to denote being ultimate.”
And it gives this quotation from a sports article as an example:
“Wolves, sensing the comeback of all comebacks was on the cards, kept pressing and set up an exciting finish…”
Essentially, the phrase “Name of all names” refers to the greatest or most supreme name.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/of_all
I was not able to find this definition elsewhere, perhaps because “of all” is a very short and generic phrase.
Taylor Pike
I didn’t even take “of all” into consideration! I only thought of “above vs of.” In understand now. Thank you!
Vince Wright
Thank you Neal! This was extremely helpful.
-Vince Wright
Johnnie Hilburn
This song is man-centered and frankly not in the least poetic. Too much 7-11, 7 words repeated 11 times. The lyrics are doctrinally shallow, though they appear to be doctrinally sound, as far as they go. Too bad there is not much doctrinal depth here. It may pass “the Berean test”, but is much too shallow for worship and teaching a congregation deep, sound doctrine. There are a host of better songs that provide deep doctrinal teaching. This group also has associations with a disgraced minister.
Vince Wright
Johnnie,
Thank you for your comments!
What makes you think that this song is centered around man and not centered around glorifying and praising God? Also, shallow lyrics have their uses in worship, providing milk for new converts or unbelievers in attendance. Finally, we need to be careful with the guilt by association fallacy. Jesus associated Himself with the Pharisees, who were false teachers, blind guides, and whitewashed tombs. Does that make Jesus a false teacher because He associated Himself with them? Of course not. Besides, the purpose of the Berean Test is to examine song lyrics, not evaluate the artist in question, including who they associate themselves with.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Johnnie,
If the lyrics to this song are “man-centered” and “doctrinally shallow”, would you say the same thing about the following Psalms?
Psalm 117, only 2 verse long, basically says “Praise the Lord, His kindness is great, His truth is Forever, Praise the Lord.” Is this doctrinally shallow?
Psalm 134, – 3 verses long, again “Bless the Lord, lift up your hands, the Lord made everything, Bless Him.” Is this doctrinally shallow?
Psalm 138 – 8 verses long , David refers to himself 13 times and the Lord 23 times. Is this to man centered?
If Psalm 138 passes your “man-centered’ test, what about Psalm 142, – 7 verses long – David refers to himself 32 times and the Lord only 9 times. Is this to man centered?
Psalm 150 – 6 verses long, literally says “Praise ye the Lord” twice and “Praise Him” 9 times.. No lengthy discussion on the reasons for praising Him. No deep theological treatise on the what, why, where, and when of praise. Just a simple declaration to praise Him.
I picked these Psalms specifically because they were short, simple songs declaring what should be our desire, to praise our God.
Now let’s look at the song in question…
I do not consider the concepts that “The same God that never fails Will not fail me now” or “The same God who’s never late Is working all things out” to be “doctrinally shallow”. Rather, I find them to be the ‘bedrock’ of my faith when times get hard.
Over and over again the Israelites were told to remember what God had done for them (Exo. 13:3, Numbers 15:37-41, Deut. 4:10, Deut. 5:15, Deut. 7:18, Deut. 8:14-18, Jos. 1:13, etc.)
Israel failed so often because they did not remember the Lord and, when times got tough, ran off to other gods thus incurring the wrath of the only true God (Judges 8:34, Neh. 9:17, Isa. 51:13. Jer. 18:15, etc.)
Phrases like “And I CHOOSE to praise”, “Oh, yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley”, and “Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy” are central to what it means to ‘live by faith”.
2Co 10:4-5 (KJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Phil 4:6-8 (KJV)
¶
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I could go on and on with scripture references, Old and New Testament, that speak to the power and benefits of making a conscious choice to remember what God has done in the past and applying that knowledge to the present as we hope for the future.
And, no, this is not “Word of Faith” or the “Power of Positive Thinking” (both of those are pale counterfeits to genuine faith.)
Mark 9:23 (KJV)
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
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Jesus’ statement in Mark 9:23 regarding the power available to him who believes is a controversial one. The context of Mark 9, however, establishes a clear understanding of Jesus’ statement. Mark 9 presents a scene where a father is seeking aid from Jesus’ disciples in casting a demon out of his son. Jesus approaches and asks what is happening. The father’s answer is that the disciples have failed to cast out the demon. Jesus replies, “You unbelieving generation, . . . how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” (Mark 9:19). The father then asks Jesus to take pity on them and cast out the demon (Mark 9:22). Jesus then says, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23, NKJV).
The word for “believes” is a participle that literally translates as “the believing one.” Jesus provides the means for everything to be possible—one must believe in Him! The Amplified Bible translates Jesus’ statement more fully: “All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Faith is an important ingredient in this story. Some have argued that the strength of one’s belief is what Jesus is discussing. The issue at hand, however, is not how strongly or boldly the father believed Jesus would heal his son. The issue is the object of one’s belief. The disciples didn’t need more faith but more focused faith. Put another way, the disciples needed to place their belief in the correct object—Jesus Christ.
In Mark 9:22, the father asks for Jesus’ help, beginning his appeal with “If you can do anything.” Jesus’ initial response to the father in Mark 9:23 takes issue with how the father framed his request: “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asks. “Anything is possible if a person believes” (NLT). Proper belief in who Jesus is would have given the father confidence in Jesus’ ability to cast out the demon. After hearing this, the father exclaims that he does believe, and if there is any deficiency, he requests that Jesus help his unbelief (verse 24). Mark 9:25–29 reveals the person and power necessary to cast out the demon. As Jesus states in verse 29, prayer is necessary because the Person needed for such a task is God Himself. The object of one’s faith is critical.
Jesus makes a remarkable statement in Mark 9:23. If we misunderstand the statement that “all things are possible to him who believes,” we set ourselves up for disappointment. Jesus’ words are not a promise that we can do whatever we want; rather, He makes it clear that the believing one has power only due to whom he believes in; namely, Jesus, the Son of God. The power is God’s, accessed through faith and prayer according to His will (see 1 John 5:14). It is because of God that the believing one can accomplish much. It is by God’s grace the disciples would accomplish incredible and miraculous things after Jesus’ departure (cf. Acts 3:1–10). As we live for Jesus, let us focus on the object of our belief (Hebrews 12:2).
https://www.gotquestions.org/all-things-possible-him-who-believes.html
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Although the song “Yes I will” may not plunge to the depths of an aexegetical analysis of God’s faithfulness, it is far from being shallow.