TRENDING NRT NEWS: Staff Voices: A Journey Through Sound | Sarah Reeves Essentials | Narnia Coming To Life
BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS
#506 - "Forever" by Kari Jobe
Hear why this collaboration with Bethel rings so true to this powerhouse worship leader, and why it's becoming an Easter season favorite.
 


BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS, #506 -
Posted: March 25, 2014 | By: NRTeamAdmin
NRT Editorial RSS Feed

From the first listen, I was totally captivated by the compelling live worship album Majestic by Kari Jobe, available everywhere March 25. Songs like "Hands to the Heavens," "Only Your Love" and "How Majestic" each feature an engaging soft rock musical style while phrasing biblical truth in a creative, corporate, and also personal way. 

Majestic is about proclaiming the majesty of God and crying out for His presence throughout this incredible worship experience, which stirs my heart, mind and soul to bow before Jesus, our Majestic King. He alone is worthy. These excellent songs are all prayers, adorations and declarations about our Great God. 

Many of the songs, like lead single "Forever," co-written with Bethel Music's Brian and Jenn Johnson, have me pondering God's Majesty and eternity as the song boldly sings: "Now death where is your sting, our resurrected King has rendered you defeated, forever He is glorified, forever He is lifted high, forever He is risen, He is alive, He is alive!" I had the chance to speak with Kari about "Forever."

Please tell me the story behind the song.

The story behind the song is really powerful. We wanted to write a song that would bring glory to Jesus and paint the picture of the crucifixion again. I know we have songs about that. In this scenario, it is about how our resurrected King has rendered the Enemy defeated. All glory and all honor and all praise to Jesus for coming to this earth and dying on the Cross for our sins, and raising to life, defeating death, the Enemy and the grave. We will forever sing Hallelujah and glorify Jesus because of what He has done for us.

I started writing the song with Brian Johnson about two years ago. It was a sweet time of talking about the theme we wanted for the song. It took a bit of time, and some other writers came in to help us finish it. We wanted it to be poetic and about the Cross, and said in a different way than we've heard it before. I love the bridge, and that came out of a night of worship where Jenn Johnson added and sang that part during a night of worship, which is really exciting. The song comes out of the Scripture in Revelation where it says, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, Be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever." There are other Scriptures about how Jesus overcame death forever.

 Which Bible verses connect to the song? 

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NKJV):
"So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting?'"

Revelation 5:11-13 (NIV): "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, Be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!'"

What's the takeaway message for the song and album? 

It is a cool idea that we sing these songs on earth to the Lord, and when we enter Heaven we will sing these songs forever to the Lamb. We don't need to talk about ourselves anymore or be forgiven of our sins. In Heaven, it will be complete worship of the Lord. He redeemed us and brought us to Himself. It is twofold. It is a song for us here on Earth and it is a picture of Heavenly worship of singing to the Lamb and worshipping God. I think it is important to focus on the victory we have over the Enemy. On the Cross, Jesus paid the price for not just our sins being forgiven, but we have victory because Jesus took the keys to Hell and overcame death. He overcame the Law. He overcame the rules and regulations of religion and made it about relationship.

When people are getting that revelation from singing this song, "Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated," I have yet to sing this song and not have people start cheering at that part. We are getting this amazing revelation. It is such an exciting song and I'm excited to be a part of it. The album really points to the fact that God is the King. He is Majestic. He is Mighty. His Name defeats all other names. The Enemy has no power.

A lot of the songs are a welcoming to the Spirit of God to move in our lives in a powerful way. He does it anyway. When we are gathered in His Name, He is there. There is something powerful as worshippers when we make a point to ask God to move in us, and tell God He is welcome to have all of us. It is powerful when we ask the Lord to have His way with us. There are songs about Heaven invading Earth. We want to be more aware of how God's Kingdom is moving and we want to be part of that. Not just existing on this Earth, but being very cognizant of the fact that the Spirit of God wants to move in us.

Lyrics:
The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse was broken

One final breath He gave
As Heaven looked away
The Son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive

We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome


All of the songs on Majestic invite you to express your own desire for God's presence. I love how expressive these songs get such as in the emotive bridge, "We sing Hallelujah, the Lamb has overcome!" from "Forever." 

The song is an emotive and poetic description of a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us. The enemy is real and our best defense against his desire to destroy us is to cry out the victorious words of songs like "Forever" at the top of our lungs and know that our Redeemer has saved us from death, forever. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, this song is a salvation message that helps us remember that Jesus came to die, defeated death and rose again to set us free.
 
There is nothing we have been given that is more valuable than our salvation. This song moves me to reflect on just how much Jesus endured for His bride to purchase us from the grave. This song is a foretaste of that beautiful ending that we are all running towards as we finish the race set before us. Worship is about giving God our best, offering all of ourselves to Him. That is a sweet aroma of praise. He created us to worship Him.

A.W. Tozer said, "We should not find it miraculous that God is victorious. What else would He be? But we should find it miraculous that we can be victorious through Him." This song encourages me and is one of the most inspirational songs I've ever heard. What an exciting thought that all suffering and hurt will be left behind and one day glory will be revealed in us through Christ. We will be singing "Hallelujah, the Lamb has Overcome," forever. Amen to that!

NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.

Christian Music, Devotionals, Interviews, Editorials
Jason Gray
NEW! BEHIND THE SONG
#1203 - Jason Gray

The contemporary singer talks about finding grace in imperfection
 

ADVERTISEMENT
Cabrini
NEW! MOVIE REVIEW
'Cabrini'

NRT's J.J. Francesco reviews the new film from Angel Studios
 
Wayback Editorial
NEW! WAYBACK EDITORIAL
5 Things We Miss

Things that we don't often see anymore in Christian music.
Hulvey
NEW! RADIO RADAR
Hulvey "Altar"

Exploring songs currently heard on Christian radio
 
The CHH Drop
NEW! THE CHH DROP
#175 - Steven Malcolm

What's new in Christian Hip-Hop and Urban Soul for this week

Christian Music, Facebook Christian Music, Twitter Christian Music, YouTube Christian Music, Instagram

ADVERTISEMENTS

TRENDING NRT NEWS: Staff Voices: A Journey Through Sound | Sarah Reeves Essentials | Narnia Coming To Life

Christian Music

©2024 NewReleaseToday
A Division Of NRT Media Inc.

 

Secure
CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Discover New Artists
New This Week
Coming Soon
Playlists
Free Music
Album Reviews

NEWS
New Music
Movies / Media
Events
Tours
General

PODCASTS
NRT Now Podcast
NRT Podcast Network

VIDEOS
Music Videos
Exclusives

EXCLUSIVES
Articles
Devotionals
Interviews
Concert Reviews
We Love Awards

MORE INFO
RSS
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Advertising
Staff
New Music Email
Contact

RESOURCES
Music Studies
Artist Training

CONNECT
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube