Day 1: Waymaker - by Sinach - version by Leeland

Day 1: Waymaker - by Sinach - version by Leeland - version by Michael W. Smith

Waymaker [originally by Sinach and made popular my Leeland and Michael W. Smith] is currently one of the most popular worship songs used in contemporary Christian worship and has been featured heavily at my church Abundant Life Fellowship. It has become even more popular throughout the global pandemic as a song that really stays with you throughout a stressful day. Let's look at the lyrics and biblical context of the song as well as a common critique that some have against the song.

Background

Although this song was written by Nigerian Gospel star Sinach in 2016, it didn’t reach a global audience until the pandemic hit in 2020. Michael W. Smith’s daughter introduced it to him as one of her “go-to” songs. Soon after this, with Sinach’s blessing, he performed the song as part of a Facebook Live concert. While typically in a Michael W. Smith concert the audience prefers singing along with well-known songs, Waymaker was immediately embraced as a powerful new worship song. The audience loved it, he recorded a version for radio, and suddenly Waymaker was topping American worship song charts. Later, when COVID numbers in Italy were going through the roof, he also recorded a version in Italian to encourage the believers of that nation. The comforting, encouraging lyrics and repetitiveness of the song are strengths that have been helping people through a time of great stress.

Biblical Background

Although the word “waymaker” is not found in the Bible, the concepts of the Holy Spirit leading the believer and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross making a road back to God for sinners are central themes of scripture. Romans 8:9-11

“Light in the darkness” is also repeated many times throughout the song, a direct reference to Jesus as the Light of the World. This is the same imagery used in the Gospel of John, richly contrasting light and darkness. John 1:1-4

These are Biblical and vital principles of God’s character; the repetition of phrases in Waymaker forms an almost liturgical call-and-response refrain, much like what we read in Psalm 136, allowing us to meditate on these truths.

A Critical Point Made by Some

Critics have suggested the song purports that every heart is healed, as in Universalism. However, recognizing that a song or a line of lyrics do not function in a vacuum as the sole doctrinal teaching on a topic, it is important to look at the complete message of the song and how it aligns with scripture. When one does this, Waymaker is clearly not promoting Universalism but an unequivocal worship of the God of the Bible; there is no promotion of a “genie in a bottle” higher power.

Abundant Life Worship Team Cover

Michael W. Smith Version

Leeland Version

Original by Sinach

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Original Lyrics

Verse 1:
You are here, moving in our midst.

I worship You; I worship You.

You are here, working in this place.

[x2]

Chorus:

Way maker, miracle worker,

promise keeper Light in the darkness,

my God; That is who You are.

[x2]

Verse 2:

You are here, touching every heart.

I worship You; I worship You.

You are here, healing every heart.

I worship You; I worship You.

You are here, turning lives around.

I worship You; I worship You.

You are here, mending every heart.

I worship You; I worship You.

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

You wipe away all tears.

You mend the broken heart.

You're the answer to it all.

Jesus You wipe away all tears.

You mend the broken heart.

You're the answer to it all;

to it all Jesus, yeah!

Repeat Chorus

Verse 3:

You are here, touching every life.

I worship You; I worship You.

You are here; meeting every need.

I worship You; I worship You.

Repeat Chorus

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Osinachi Okoro

Lyrics: Leeland Version

Lyrics: Michael W. Smith Version

Final Thought

This song has been a blessing to many in my church and around the world. The memorable, stick-in-your-head tune and repetitive nature of the song really hit home how the Holy Spirit leads us through life and makes a way when we can’t do so in our own power. This has been a blessing to so many throughout the COVID pandemic and should continue to encourage believers for many years to come.

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Check Out Day 2 of my 30 Day Worship Challenge: It is Well...

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