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Day 3: 10,000 Reasons/Bless the Lord -Matt Redman

I saw Matt Redman in concert when I was in college during a festival called Passion OneDay in Tennessee.  It was a wonderful experience in that open field, rain pouring down, with tens of thousands of other college students singing "Let it rain... Open the floodgates of Heaven."  He is a truly great worship leader with a gift for bringing people into a real worship experience.  He does this with 10,000 Reasons [which he has won Dove Awards and Grammy Awards for].  This is one of the reasons that this is one of the first songs our worship team recorded to put online during church shutdowns.  "Sing like never before.  I'll worship Your Holy Name."

Background

This song quotes Psalms 103:1-5 which lays out five reasons to bless the Lord [His Name, His benefits, His Healing, His Lovingkindness and Compassion, and how He renews our youth like the eagle]:

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
    Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
    Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
    So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

That's Only 5 Reasons

Although that is only five reasons and not ten thousand, the point that Redman is making is that His goodness and love throughout our lives, every moment, every blessing, and every thing that He has done in our lives is another reason to praise Him.  So, think about literally anything past, present, or future and you can find a reason to praise Him.  There are at least ten thousand.  "Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes."  When singing this song I tend to focus on major blessings in my life like my wife and children but I think it is instructive to realize that you can focus in on any specific moment to be thankful for.  Every day is a gift from God.

Lyrics

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

[Verse 1]
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

[Verse 2]
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
So bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Bless you, Lord

[Verse 3]
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still, my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Forevermore

Abundant Life Fellowship Version


Matt Redman Original


Final Thoughts

There are times that a worship leader struggles to decide what songs to include in a worship set.  If that's you... if you are trying to decide right now... understand that this song fits in your set.  The only problem you're going to have is how to get people to stop singing when the theme is that we are going to sing of His Goodness FOREVER.

Hey, not many of you are commenting below.  I've given you my bucket of Grace.  Now it's your turn.  Comment below one of your ten thousand reasons to bless the Lord.

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Comments

  1. Lydia HuntressJuly 20, 2022 at 5:27 AM

    I have sweet memories of learning this song first during home group in the Dolan’s living room. Musically and spiritually, I connect it with I’ll Fly Away, Amazing Grace (last verse), and especially Blessed Be Your Name (which brought me to tears for years beginning in college).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just a Guy with a Bucket Full of GraceJuly 22, 2022 at 8:12 AM

      I agree. Isn't it wonderful how a song can bring up a memory that is connected with it to enhance the worship experience every time. That can make learning new worship songs that much more difficult because they don't have the emotional connection to the past yet.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJuly 20, 2022 at 6:19 AM

    10,000 reasons for my heart to sing... I can recall a time when my heart sang a different tune. I had reasons to sing of bitterness, of regret, etc. It seems that our lives are always singing the praise of something, even if that thing isn't beneficial. "Why are you so downcast, my soul?" asked David (Psalm 43). I am thankful that I am finding new reasons everyday to sing of the goodness of the LORD. 10,000 does seem like a small amount when considering how great God has been in every season. So I think, like David, who said to this soul - Bless the LORD, O my soul. (Psalm 103). We must forget not His benefits. Perhaps we are prone to forget. But, let that not be us today. Not simply by willfully wishing some positivity into existence, but our soul needs some direction at times. Our soul needs to be reminded who it is that is sovereign over the affairs of men and who hold eternity in his hands. Bless the LORD, oh my soul, worship His holy name. Thanks Andrew.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just a Guy with a Bucket Full of GraceJuly 22, 2022 at 8:13 AM

      I agree. It's not about thinking positively as the World would suggest. It's about acknowledging and thanking the creator and not forgetting Him.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJuly 22, 2022 at 7:48 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2022 at 9:36 AM

    Love Ps. 103 and this song. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. Rita

    ReplyDelete

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