As a follow-up to hit song "Soar" and title track "Deeper," "I Look to The King" by Meredith Andrews with Matt Maher is my favorite song from Deeper, which released in early February. Meredith is deeply passionate about writing and leading songs that keep people's hearts and minds set on Jesus, as demonstrated by "Not for a Moment (After All)," "Strong God" and "Spirit of the Living God."

Meredith consistently writes and sings piercing, relevant and moving songs. What's especially cool about this album is how Meredith invites listeners into her life by sharing what's on her heart. She dwells on prayerful yearnings, lays out spiritual truths and worships God all at the same time. Meredith's excellent songwriting and singing and her captivating songs have made her my favorite female worship songwriter and singer. I had the chance to speak with Meredith about "I Look to the King," our 12th behind the song discussion together.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song almost didn't make the album at first. My husband Jacob produced the songs, and we felt strongly about adding this one. Jacob and I went to see The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in the theater when it came out. There is a scene in the movie when the dwarves are doing battle and they're alone and being slaughtered, and then a dwarf with a big red beard who is the king's cousin comes riding in and declares this battle cry: "to the king!" It was a really epic moment in the movie. 

Jacob was so inspired, and he immediately had a song idea around the phrase "to the king! I look to the king," which has become a sort of war cry for us. His creative inspiration comes to life in moving parts of films, and he got teary-eyed and emotional in that moment thinking of the battle we are facing and the sheer victory we have in Christ. Our eyes are on God, the King Eternal. If we fix our eyes God, we are winning. We had the chorus for a long time and collaborated with Matt Maher to round out the song.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 121 (NKJV): "I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."

Psalm 119:37 (NKJV): "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way."

1 Timothy 1:17 (NKJV): "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

John 3:11 (VOICE): "I tell you the truth: we speak about the things we know, and we give evidence about the things we have seen, and you choose to reject the truth of our witness."
 
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV): "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV): "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV): "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

What is the takeaway message?

While there might be battles that we face on this earth that feel like we are fighting a losing battle, and it feels like the Enemy is coming against us on every side, we have the promise and we have the hope that our King Jesus is victorious. He showed that when He defeated the grave. He will ultimately silence the Enemy, in the near future. This song came out of the place that even on the battlefield the King will be victorious, even when we can't see the victory. Even when it looks bleak and hopeless, and the Enemy is gaining ground. We need to lift our eyes and set our eyes on what we know is true and look to the King. 

The battle is the Lord's, and He's got this. I don't, and I'm not strong enough. I can't fight this battle alone or I'm going to lose, but I know what I'm going to believe. I believe that God is stronger and He's going to defeat my Enemy. I'm going to keep my eyes on Him and not on the battle in front of me.

Lyrics:
On the battlefield where the fight is waged
My enemy is real and my courage fades
I lift my eyes, I lift my eyes, where does my help come from

I look to the King
Eternal, Immortal, Invincible God
I stand on the Rock of Ages,
My Savior, He conquered it all
I look to the King, I look to the King
On the battlefield of all that lies ahead
Here Your blood will speak
A greater word than death

I lift my eyes, I lift my eyes, where does my help come from
Victorious, You are victorious
Reigning over us, forevermore
Victorious, You are victorious
Reigning over us, forevermore

Deeper is the most spine-tingling female led worship project I've experienced this year, and all of these songs are completely anointed, Spirit-led and emotionally captivating. There are no weak songs, and this album is truly a masterpiece. She sings with an amazing passion, with unashamed praise and gratitude to our Savior that is very inspiring and emotionally moving. All of her songs are poignant and powerful with earnest, worshipful lyrics. Deeper is one of the top worship albums of the year.

When you put yourself under a microscope and examine whether you really believe all of the words of this great song, you'll find that it will challenge your faith. The timeless passage, Psalm 121, has application as well for us today, living in uncertain times. Know with certainty that God is "victorious, You are victorious, reigning over us forevermore."

God can do immeasurably more than anything and everything one can ask or even imagine, and this song is a true celebration of the great biblical truth of "Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" from Ephesians 3:20. This a great song which I would love to sing with fellow believers and profess the Truth that without Jesus, we are nothing.

The message of this song challenges listeners to think about our own doubts and how Jesus calls us to rely on Him and the power of His resurrection, to remember that He has overcome death and fear. All of the things we discussed are what make us victorious through Jesus. This song is an offer of true release that we can sing with all of our hearts to Jesus: "I look to the King, I look to the King, on the battlefield of all that lies ahead, here Your blood will speak a greater word than death." Amen to that!

Watch an acoustic performance of the song below.