One of the unexpected benefits of the COVID-19 crisis has been the vast amount of music being produced. Previously untapped creativity is showing up in live streams from living rooms, video montages, and new songs. Who knows what songs might never have been written apart from being forced to isolate?
In mid-March, my good friend from the UK, Tim Chester, sent me some lyrics he had written, taken from Psalm 91. To be more specific, he subtitled it: “A song for the coronavirus outbreak based on Psalm 91.”
I’ve collaborated with Tim before (Come Praise and Glorify, Reformation Song), and love writing with him. He’s committed setting God’s word to verse but understands the fine tension between accuracy and singability. I began working on a melody for his lyrics, but couldn’t land on something I really liked. So I ran it by a few people and we made a number of lyric and melodic changes. We finally arrived at something I thought was worth sharing.
Christ Will Be My Hideaway is a congregational song for a pandemic or any time really. It’s based on Psalm 91, which is filled with encouraging, soul-strengthening promises from God that lift our eyes above our circumstances to see his providential, wise, powerful care.
Here are the lyrics:
I will dwell within the shelter
Of the God who reigns above.
I will rest beneath the shadow
Of the mighty King of love.
Though a sickness hides in darkness
Though a plague destroys by day
I will stand upon his promises
Christ will be my hideaway.
In You, my God, I trust, You are strong and here with us
In You, my hope remains, Christ will be my hideaway
Angels gather to protect me
When they hear my Savior call
Sovereign hands are ever ready
To uphold me should I fall
Safe beneath his wings of refuge
All my fears are kept at bay
I am shielded by his faithfulness,
Christ will be my hideaway
Though a thousand fall around me
Though death looks me in the eye
Evil shall not have the vict’ry
While the Lord is at my side
God in power raised my Savior
I no longer fear the grave
Through this fragile life and evermore
Christ will be my hideaway
Music & words by Tim Chester, Bob Kauflin, Nathan Stiff, David Zimmer, Lacy Hudson, McKenzie Fuller. © 2020 Sovereign Grace Worship/ASCAP, Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI
Feel free to download the CHORD CHART or the LEAD SHEET.
It’s my prayer that you’ll be encouraged not only by this song, but by the God who has said:
“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:15, ESV)
And we need never doubt that promise because we have a faithful Savior who endured God’s wrath against our sin on the cross and was raised to eternal glory for our salvation.
By the way, for those rightly concerned about social distancing during this season, the musicians with me in this video are all currently living in my house. (McKenzie Fuller and Lacy Hudson on vocals, and Zach Fuller on acoustic).
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