Brenton Brown, one of the most gifted of worship leaders and writers at work today returns March 22, 2011 with a new album full of standout songs, Our God Is Near.

From the writer of “Adoration” and “Everlasting God” comes a stunning brand new album that will strengthen and inspire the church the world over. Our God Is Near features songs “Our God Is Mercy”, “Joyful”, “Glorious” and “We Lift You Up.” The first single to be released from the highly anticipated album is “Joyful,” which is available now.

After a recent run of magazine covers, awards, including one from ASCAP recognizing the popularity of “Everlasting God,” and the generally increasing buzz, there’s a fresh excitement about Brenton and his music. Brenton is one of today’s leading worship leaders and songwriters having written "Everlasting God", "Praise Is Rising", "Our God Saves", "Lord Reign In Me" and more.

I got the opportunity to correspond with Brenton about his current single "Joyful." The following is what he shared with me.

Please tell me the background in writing the song.

“Joyful” has pretty great pedigree! The verse melody was penned by Beethoven in 1785, the verse lyrics were penned by Henry van Dyke, the US ambassador to the Netherlands and Professor of Literature at Princeton in the early 1900’s, and the bridge was written with Jason Ingram, who also helped produce the track. (He's known for “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath and “By Your Side” by Tenth Avenue North). The verse melody is 225 years old! And yet it still feels fresh. That’s writing! Van Dyke, a professor of literature at Princeton, wrote of the hymn: "These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time—hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven."

Did you base the song on any Bible verses?

John 4:42: "Then they said to the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.'"

What's the take-away message for listeners?
This is a hymn of trust and joy and hope. This hope is as true as it was a century ago. As much as has changed in the last century, what remains true for today, even during this economic downturn is that Jesus Christ is the hope and Savior of the world. He is the One whose hand lifts us from the grave. He is our rescue. And as we turn our hearts and eyes towards Christmas, it is this hope that we celebrate and rejoice in at this important time in the Christian calendar. "We know that this man really is the Savior of the world" and because our lives and hearts are held in His, we can be joyful!

Here are the lyrics:

Joyful joyful we adore You
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before You
Opening to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of Eternal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

You are the One who saves
You are the One who saves
You are the One whose hands lift us from the grave
You are the light of life
The everlasting day
You are the One who takes all our sins away

You are giving and forgiving
Ever blessing, ever blessed
Fountain of the joy of living
Ocean depths of happy rest

Jesus You are my rescue
Jesus You are my rescue
I give You everything I am

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary on John 4:42, and the effects of Christ's conversation with the woman of Samaria: “The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a Samaritan. Yet they knew it was for some good reason, and for some good end. Thus when particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God, it is good to satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things affected the woman. The extent of His knowledge. Christ knows all the thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men. And the power of His word. He told her secret sins with power. She fastened upon that part of Christ's discourse, many would think she would have been most shy of repeating; but the knowledge of Christ, into which we are led by conviction of sin, is most likely to be sound and saving. They came to Him: those who would know Christ, must meet him where He records His name. Our Master has left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as He did; with diligence, as those that make a business of it; with delight and pleasure in it. Christ compares His work to harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and looked for before it comes; so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work must be done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospel is a season, which if once past, cannot be recalled. God sometimes uses very weak and unlikely instruments for beginning and carrying on a good work. Our Savior, by teaching one poor woman, spread knowledge to a whole town.”

I have loved the hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” based on Beethoven’s 9th symphony since I was a young child. Recently Casting Crowns also recorded a re-write of the classic hymn “Joyful, Joyful.” As we have just celebrated the birth of our King Jesus, Brenton Brown’s great new recording of this hymn of the faith “Joyful” is a wonderful way to lift up your voice in praise and adoration of our Savior. He came to earth to teach us how to be more like Him and to die for our sins to save us. Share the love of Jesus with your unsaved friends and family members and tell them the reason for the “hope and joy” in your heart, Jesus!