More Than a Song - Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today's Popular Christian Music

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#386: "House Of The Lord" by Phil Wickham Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

What does Scripture say about the house of the Lord? That's what I set out to discover with Phil Wickham's new song, "House of the Lord," playing in the background. The answer weaves through the Old and New Testaments.

We only scratch the surface, but let's see how much we can explore.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Read in context
- Explore a topic
- Make observations
- Slow down
- Share with a friend
- Follow the cross-references
The 30 Day Music Challenge
Phil Wickham's thoughts in the story behind the song - YouTube Video
David's own joy at the thought of going to the house of the Lord - Psalm 122:1
Expressing curiosity at the thought that David implies going to the temple, but it wasn't built in his lifetime
The story of David's desire to build a house for the Lord and God's response - 2 Samuel 7:1-7
A wonderful resource to explore the tabernacle and what all the pieces represent - "Made According to Pattern" by CW Slemming
Learning about the first dwelling place of God among His people...a tent - Exodus 25
The presence of God filling the tent of meeting and some observations - Exodus 35:34-38
God declaring that David's son would build him a temple - 2 Samuel 7:11-16
Solomon beginning the building process in 2 Chronicles 3
The angel declaring Jesus as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant - Luke 1:31-33
The temple as a house of prayer for all peoples - Isaiah 56:7
Comparing Jesus and His new covenant to the copy and shadow of the old covenant - Hebrews 8:1-6
Understanding that individually as believers in Christ we are the temple of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Learning that collectively, as believers, we are the dwelling place of God as well - 1 Peter 2:4-5, Ephesians 2:19-22

Additional Resources

Lyrics and chords - Essential Worship
Behind The Song With Kevin Davis - New Release Today Article
"Why didn’t God allow David to build the temple?" - GotQuestions.org Article

This Week's Challenge

You have a lot of reading and observing to do this week! Head over to Exodus to read all about the tabernacle -- its design and purpose. Then read God's response to David's desire to build Him a "house" in 2 Samuel 7. You can read all about the building process of the temple beginning in 2 Chronicles 3. Explore the fulfillment of God's covenant in Christ in Hebrews 8. Finally, meditate on the truth sprinkled throughout the New Testament that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit -- both individually and collectively. We are the house of the Lord, and there's joy in the house of the Lord.

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#385: "Who Else" by Natalie Grant Jul 19, 2021

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I had a student director in college who was a master at asking questions to get you to think. He said he learned it from Jesus in Scripture. I guess Jesus learned it from His Father. Natalie Grant asks a question in her song "Who Else" that God rhetorically asks of Himself.

Let's explore our incomparable God together in the book of Isaiah.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Read in context
- Read and keep on reading
- Use your imagination
- Consult an outside resource
The 30 Day Music Challenge
How even God asks "who is like me?" - Isaiah 40:25
How God doesn't compare Himself to other "gods" when defining Himself - Exodus 3:14
How God wants the whole world to know there is no one like Him - Exodus 8:10
David's view of himself when faced with God's greatness - 2 Samuel 7:19-21
David's praise response to God's covenant with him voicing again that there is none like Him - 2 Samuel 7:22
Episode 373 and how we are made in God's image
Recognizing that being made in His image and being like Him in our "being" are two different things
God's communicable and incommunicable attributes and the difference between the two
God establishing there is none other like Him - Isaiah 44:6-8
Moving from understanding what the text says to what it means to what it means to me
Declarative statements and questions wrapped up in Isaiah 44:9-11
Using our imagination to picture the scene described in Isaiah 44:12-17
The irony of trees used in making idols being watered by rain that worthless gods cannot send - Jeremiah 14:22
Personally examining whether the "good things" in our lives have replaced a good God using Joe Carter's article at The Gospel Coalition - TGC Article

Additional Resources

Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
Chords - Praise Charts
"How to Expose the Idols in Your Life" by Joe Carter - TGC Article

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#384: "Hold On To Me " by Lauren Daigle Jul 12, 2021

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What if you could have that ONE relationship where, no matter how bad you mess things up, the other One won't let go? Our Heavenly Father offers us that stability and consistency we desperately want. When Lauren Daigle sings "Hold On To Me," I think of the many times in Scripture where God promises to do just that.

Let's learn more about our Father, who holds us close.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Consult an overview
- Read in context
- Start with God
- Compare and contrast
- Make a list
- Meditate on Scripture
The 30 Day Music Challenge
A trusted overview of Isaiah - BibleProject.com
How God not only holds us, but carries us - Isaiah 40:11
How God holds us, has the power to keep us, and has our good at heart - Isaiah 41:10
Staying faithful to study God's Word no matter the stage of experience you are in
Starting with God when you approach Scripture
Using questions to spur on additional study or leaving them unanswered while you meditate on the parts you do understand
An article on "recompense" - GotQuestions.org
Correcting any wrong thinking that may say we are hidden from God's sight or that He is indifferent - Isaiah 40:27-31

Additional Resources

Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
Chords - Essential Worship
The Story Behind the Song "Hold On To Me" by Lauren Daigle - YouTube Video
Commentary on Isaiah - BibleStudyTools.com

This Week's Challenge

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#383: "Canyon " by Ellie Holcomb Jul 05, 2021

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It is comforting to me to know that no matter the tragedy, season of pain and sorrow, and storms of my life, the Holy Spirit is a river that flows through the canyon of my life. Ellie Holcomb uses this metaphor in her song "Canyon," and I use it to inspire my exploration Scripture to discover what it has to say to us.

Join me as we see the waters of life flow through Scripture and in and through our lives.

In this episode I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Use your imagination
- Read in context
- Utilize the section headings
- Follow the cross-references
The 30 Day Music Challenge
The story behind the song "Canyon" - New Release Today Article
The metaphor of your life as a canyon with major events making up the layers
What we learned about water as a metaphor from last week's episode - Episode 382
Using your imagination to interact with Scripture
The Holy Spirit as "rivers of living water" flowing from your heart - John 7:37-39
Using a physical Bible to aid in "picturing the words on the page"
Finding out what Scripture Jesus was quoting by following the cross-reference to Isaiah 55:1
Discovering the gospel message in Isaiah 55
- Repentance in Isaiah 55:6-7
- God achieving His purposes through His Word - Isaiah 55:10-11
Following the cross-reference to Acts 13
Looking at the layers in the canyon of the history of the Hebrew people and seeing the river of God's presence and life running through it

Additional Resources

Lyrics - New Release Today
Story Behind the Song "Canyon" by Ellie Holcomb - New Release Today Article
Chords - Worship Together

This Week's Challenge

We went to three amazing places in Scripture this week. You could follow the path I took or choose to stop at lookouts along the way. Read John 7. Take the BITE of imagining the scenes described. Ponder the thought that the Holy Spirit is described as a river of life. Follow the cross-reference to Isaiah 55 and uncover the beautiful gospel message held in the text. Ride the rapids to Acts 13, where Paul describes the deep canyon of God's people and reveals that there was a river running through it the entire time.

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#382: "Come What May" by We Are Messengers Jun 28, 2021

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It's easy to get swept away by our emotions when our environment changes. Circumstances don't change God, but they may reveal Him to us in new ways. When We Are Messengers sing "Come What May," I am reminded that I can rely on God no matter what.

David sings about this same thing in Psalm 23. Let's explore it together.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Repetition
- Read in a variety of translations
- Meditate on Scripture
- Make a list
The 30 Day Music Challenge
The way the bridge of our song inspired me to soak in Psalm 23
The benefits of reading repetitively
- Recognize new details you may have missed before
- Increase your ability to retell what you've read
- Build confidence in what you're reading
Meditating on Psalm 23 by thinking deeply and imagining the various environments described in the psalm
Making a list of environments in Psalm 23
- Green meadows
- Peaceful streams
- Right paths
- Darkest valley/dark valley of death
- Banquet table
How a shepherd does not write this psalm, but a sheep
Additional water references
- Isaiah 49:10
- Ephesians 5:25-27
- Revelation 21:6
- John 7:37-39
Our own roles as priests in God's kingdom - 1 Peter 2:9

Additional Resources

Lyrics - New Release Today
The story behind the song "Come What May" by We Are Messengers - TheChristianBeat.org Article
"What Does the Bible Say About Anointing Oil?" - GotQuestions.org Article
"What Does it Mean That My Cup Runneth Over?" - GotQuestions.org Article

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#381: "Miracle or Not" by Alisa Turner Jun 21, 2021

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There is a difference between complaining and lament. While bringing our complaints to the Father is part of the pattern of lament we discover in Scripture, it doesn't end there. Alisa Turner offers us a song of lament similar in pattern to what we see in Scripture. In her song "Miracle Or Not," she gives voice to her questions while keeping her feet firmly on the path of praise and trust.

King David does the same in the Psalms. Let's explore one of his songs of lament together and see what we discover.

In this episode I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Consult an outside resource
- Meditate on Scripture
- Make a list
- Journal
- Read in a variety of translations
The 30 Day Music Challenge
Alisa Turner's life story - YouTube Video
The story behind the song "Miracle Or Not" - YouTube Video
The idea of pouring out our grief and complaint into writing a lament as shared by my listener Margot - The Habit Podcast Season 3 Episode 7
How one-third of the Psalms are songs of lament
Introducing Psalm 13 as our Psalm to meditate on for the week
The resource I gleaned from heavily when considering the topic of lament - "Dark Clouds Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament" by Mark Vroegop
The podcasts I listened to that introduced me to Pastor Mark's book - Revive Our Hearts Podcast episodes featuring Mark Vroegop
Defining lament
Wrestling with feelings that "I shouldn't be feeling this way"
Not rushing to the end of sorrow
Following a pattern of sorrow that ultimately leads to trust
The pattern of lament as found in Scripture
- Turn to God in prayer
- Bring your complaint
- Ask boldly
- Choose to trust
Making a list of King David's questions of complaint in Psalm 13:1-2
Making sure our complaints are based on God's truth. Like the complaint of God seeming to forget when we know from Isaiah 49:14-16 that He does NOT forget.
Being raw and real with God -- even journaling our thoughts, questions, complaints, and frustrations -- with the ultimate goal of moving TOWARD God
Asking boldly - Hebrews 4:14-16
Reorienting our vision to the ways of God that leads to praise and trust

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#380: "Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman Jun 14, 2021

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Worship is something I want to get right. What is the "Heart of Worship" that Matt Redman sings about -- and is it right? God gets dibs on defining the type of worship that delights Him, don't you agree?

Let's explore Scripture to see how the type of worship that is pleasing to God is "more than a song."

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Consulting an outside resource
- Read in context
- Use section headings to get your bearings
- Make a list
- Follow the cross-references
The 30 Day Music Challenge
Getting inspired by our theme verse - Colossians 3:16
Using a chart from an outside resource to jump into Scripture - Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
How the Colossians were to "emphasize the ministry of teaching and admonition by the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs"
Exploring a song Moses wrote at God's request - Deuteronomy 32
Reading about the purpose of the song through reading in context - Deuteronomy 31
Making a list of the characteristics of the song - Deuteronomy 31:19-22
Jumping over to 2 Chronicles 29 to experience a "coming back to the heart of worship" moment
Gaining clarity through the cross-references - Hosea 6:6, Isaiah 1:11-17, 1 Samuel 15:22, Matthew 9:13
The replacement of the Old Testament sacrificial system - Hebrews 10
The kind of sacrifice that God requires of us - Romans 12:1, Hebrews 13:15
Making a list of "more than a song" things that are pleasing in God's sight from our study of Old and New Testament references (see lists above)

Additional Resources

Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com
The story behind the song "Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman -

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#379: "Less Like Me" by Zach Williams Jun 07, 2021

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There's a great invitation in Scripture. It's sprinkled throughout the pages of the Bible in the Old and New Testaments. The invitation is to walk in newness of life in the very presence of our Creator and direct opposition to our human nature. Zach Williams sings of this idea in his song "Less of Me."

Let's explore Paul's letter to the Colossians to see what living a little more like Jesus looks like.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Reading in context
- Read the envelope
- Consider the historical background
- Consult an outside resource
- Read the overview/introduction
- Consult a map
- Make a list
- Compare and contrast
The 30-Day Music Challenge
Reading the letter all the way through
My favorite overview resource - The Bible Project
The solution of spiritual maturity in Christ
Focusing our attention and efforts in the right direction - Colossians 3:1-4
Dying to self - Colossians 2:12-14
Killing off the earthly remnants in our lives - Colossians 3:5-11
Putting on a new wardrobe that looks a whole lot more like Jesus - Colossians 3:12-17

Additional Resources

Lyrics and chords - EssentialWorship.com
An overview of Colossians - BibleProject.com
Introduction to Colossians - BlueLetterBible.org
The story behind the song "Less Like Me" by Zach Williams - YouTube Video

This Week's Challenge

Read Paul's letter to the Colossians. Watch the overview video from The Bible Project. Read over an online introduction or the introduction in your study Bible to the book of Colossians. Hone in on Colossians chapter 3 and create a chart of ways we live that reflect our "old selves" and how we live to look a little more like Jesus.

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#378: "Christ The True And Better" by Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, and Matt Papa May 31, 2021

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The Bible may be comprised of 66 books by 40 writers over 1,500 years, but it has one Author (God) and offers a grand storyline running throughout. In the song "Christ The True And Better" by Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, and Matt Papa, we see the Old Testament connecting with the New as it displays men who were types and shadows of all that Christ would be and fulfill.

Let's compare and contrast Christ and Adam as revealed in Scripture.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Reading in context
- Repetition
- Read in various translations
- Listen to an audio version of the text
- Make a list
- Write out observations
- Ask questions
- Consult an outside resource
- Define words
- Compare and contrast
The 30 Day Music Challenge
My chat with Joel Arcieri over at the Theology of Music podcast - iTunes Show Link | Spotify Show Link
Free study guide to continue using this song to inspire further study - Episode 378 Download
Answering the question about "types" in the Bible - BlueLetterBible.org Article
Discovering Adam was a type of Christ - Romans 5:14
Exploring who Adam is and the purposes God had for him - Genesis 1-3
The ruin of all mankind through original sin - Romans 5:12
Asking questions about Romans 5:13
My trusted outside resource for Romans - Romans Commentary by R. Kent Hughes
Mankind lives under death and sin whether there was a law to point it out or not - Romans 5:14
Contrasting the free gift and the trespass - Romans 5:15-16
Defining "justification" - GotQuestions.org Article
Discovering through one man death reigns and through the other life reigns - Romans 5:17
The good news of the gospel - Romans 5:18-19
Further looking at the contrast between Adam and Christ - Philippians 2:6-11

Additional Resources

Lyrics and chords - PraiseCharts.com
"The Bible is Not Basically About You" - The Gospel Coalition Article
"Jesus the True and Better" - Tim Keller clips
"Jesus the True and Better Adam" - JD Greear Article

This Week's Challenge

I encourage you to retrace my steps this week and read Genesis 1-3 with your antenna up, looking for details about Adam and the purposes God designed for him. Then, meditate on Romans 5:12-19 and consider the contrast between Adam and Christ, the true and better Adam. Then grab the free study guide at michellenezat.com/378download to use the song "Christ The True And Better" to inspire further study in Scripture. And don't forget to listen in on my conversation unpacking this song with Joel Arcieri over at the "Theology of Music" podcast.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

#377: "Come Thou Fount" by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family May 24, 2021

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There's a problem in our hearts that is not a new problem. We have hearts that are prone to wander from God. Hillary Scott & The Scott Family sing of this very thing in their rendition of the famous hymn, "Come Thou Fount." These lyrics will take us on a wonderful journey through Scripture this week.

Perhaps you'll find a place to sit and stay for a while with the Source of all our fountains.

In this episode, I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
Reading in context
Journaling
The 30 Day Music Challenge
How all of our fountains are in Him - Psalm 87:7
Allowing God to tune our hearts like a master musician
Understanding the significance of the Ebenezer stone - 1 Samuel 4-7
The time "when completeness comes" - 1 Corinthians 13:9-12
Wandering hearts are not a new phenomenon - Deuteronomy 31:16
We can be sealed for "Thy courts above" - Ephesians 1:13-14

Additional Resources

Purchase the album or single on Amazon
Lyrics and chords
"Come Thou Fount" lyrics - New Release Today
Song story "Come Thou Fount" as sung by Hillary Scott and Family - YouTube Video
Behind the hymn "Come Thou Fount" - Hymnary.org article

Weekly Challenge
Choose a phrase that resonates with you from our hymn and spend some time in Scripture this week. Perhaps you could take your time through the story found in 1 Samuel chapters 4-7. It may just inspire you to pull out your own Ebenezer stone and add a symbol of remembrance to your walk with God. Perhaps you need to surrender to the call of the gospel -- to believe and receive the seal of the Holy Spirit on your life. Pray and ask God to guide you this week, but don't miss this opportunity to spend time with Him...in His Word, in prayer, in praise, and in remembrance.

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