A few weeks ago I heard a new song which has stuck with me, so I decided it would make a good message this week. For those of you who are not country music fans, there is no need to worry. The song I heard recently is a true Christian song, although I did hear it on my country station! The words that struck me so powerfully were the last words in the chorus – “Nothing compares to The Promise I have in You”. I don’t know why this stuck with me, but it did.
The title of the song is Shout to the Lord and the author is Darlene Zschech, born in 1965 and raised in Australia. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior as a teenager, but had difficulties in her young adult life that led her to great financial difficulties. The article I read about her then said this – So, as Christians are encouraged to do in times of perplexity and fear, she turned to the Word of God – to Psalm 96. During the reading of the Psalm her mind was completely centered on the heavenly father…. While thinking on those scriptures, she slipped onto the bench of an old piano her parents had given her when she was only 5 years old. Her hands fell on the keys, and she began to improvise, not really playing anything particular. Suddenly, she found herself singing a song, which flowed from her heart and from the reading of Psalm 96. She continued to sing it, again and again. Her depression lifted and her faith and joy in the Lord returned. She had realized that the message of her song was true. It begins, “My Jesus, my Savior, Lord there is none like you.”
The song was written and produced in 1993. Here is the scripture that was her motivation for writing the song.
Psalm 96 – Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courtyards. 9 Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples fairly.” 11 May the heavens be joyful, and may the earth rejoice; may the sea roar, and all it contains; 12 may the field be jubilant, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness.
You can access the song with Darlene singing it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVkc7Av5rzQ.
Another beautiful (to me) version of the song is available with the words illustrated at Guy Penrod – Shout To The Lord (Live).
I hope you enjoy Darlene’s story and Shout to the Lord as much as I did.
Here are the words if you wish to follow:
Shout to the Lord Darlene Zschech, 1993
Verse 1
My Jesus, my Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My Comfort, my Shelter
Tower of Refuge and Strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Chorus
Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing
Power and majesty Praise to the King
Mountains bow down And the sea will roar
At the sound of Your Name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to The promise I have in You.
Verse 2
My Jesus, my Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My Comfort, my Shelter
Tower of Refuge and Strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Chorus repeated