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

-
Waymaker

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


Join my 30 Day Challenge!
Join my 30 Day Worship Challenge!

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.

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

Check Out Day 2 of My 30 Day Worship Challenge!

Comments

Post a Comment

Share your bucket of grace here:

Popular posts from this blog

What does "Deep Cries Out to Deep” mean?

-
Image
There is a new song that the Worship Team at Abundant Life Fellowship has been working on. As you learn this song and give Him praise through it, our prayer is that you let go of your deep and let it call out to the Deep in God.  Here is some background to the biblical roots of the song with a link to the music video done by Bethel Church at the bottom. Background for the Background: In Numbers 16 the Bible records an event in the life of a man named Korah. He was of the tribe of Levi and therefore set apart to be a member of the priesthood in Israel. He rebuked Moses, saying: " You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly? " -Numbers 16:3   He resented Moses' and Aaron's authority, and felt that he and his supporters could lead the Israelites more effectively. Later in the chapter, the earth opens underneath him and swallows him along with the others ...
Read more

All verses with chara in the New Testament

-
Image
The Gospel usage of the word chara: Click to go back to the word study on chara. Mat 2:10 KJV - When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great chara . Mat 13:20 KJV - But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with chara receiveth it; Mat 13:44 KJV - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found , he hideth , and for chara thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath , and buyeth that field. Mat 25:21 KJV -  His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the chara of thy lord. Mat 25:23 KJV - His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the chara of thy lord. ...
Read more

133 Biblical Character Studies

-
Image
Character Study Challenge Studying the lives of bible characters can be a great way to add method to the madness of bible study.  I will be reteaching a class on Bible Study Methods at my church starting next month and I love a good challenge.  As part of my personal bible study over the next few months, I want to learn about biblical characters and apply what I learn... so I say go big or go home.  I plan to do 133 biblical biographical character studies and we'll see how long that will take... posted here for your reading and commenting pleasure.  I've done many word studies in the past and am continuing to do so with my fruits of the spirit study .  I've also studied the biblical context of praise and worship songs in a 30 day challenge. Subscribe to the follow by email over on the side of the page and it will send new posts to your email whenever I write them.  If you would like to study along with me, here is the order I will be researching the charact...
Read more