““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace…” Micah 5:2-5a
At the time of collecting songs to create a full album, I thought and prayed to God about what I needed to hear myself, along with what word I could put out into the world. It was the beginning of 2021, just finishing 2020, a year that we all now associate with the pandemic of COVID: the shutdowns, the uncertainties, the illnesses, the isolation, the deaths. Brothers and sisters in the music business in South Africa couldn’t gather to produce music, and I had some songs, so my friend and worship pastor Louis Brittz agreed to put this together to support their families.
When we tossed the 2020 calendar and replaced it with 2021, we all had hopes of a brand-new start and for things to be normal again, but we wished too soon while outbreak numbers rose and fell. What did we all need? Peace. Peace in our hearts, peace in our hospitals, peace in our schools. Peace that would transcend above all understanding. The only place one can find that kind of peace? Jesus - He shall be our peace.
From there, I began to sift through songs I had written to find songs that would bolster that theme, recrafting some lyrics and allowing my new brothers in South Africa to work their magic with jazz tones and groove. But there was a new song that needed to be written - the title to the album!
Scripture speaks over and over of the peace we have in Jesus:
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 16:33 ~ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 14:27 ~ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
With these verses and others, I began weaving together attributes of our God to support the knowledge that He himself is our peace. He is our peace by never changing, a foundation upon which our feet may stand secure. Not only is He steadfast, but He is so gracious and kind to draw us in even when we doubt and don’t believe. When we are hungry for righteousness, He feeds us. When we are thirsty, He promises living water to drink.
Although this song came out of a COVID season, it rings especially true today with the war in Israel. So much devastation and uncertainty in the whole land, with believers on both sides. In all of it, we can still claim that God is sovereign. He promises not to leave nor forsake His people. As the prophet Micah said in the verses above, He will stand and shepherd His flock. May His sheep hear His voice, and may He draw in those who don’t yet know His voice. May we find peace in the steady, loving arms of Jesus.
“Though kingdoms may rise and fall, Your Kingdom will reign over them all.
We put our trust in God alone. We put our hope in God alone. We put our joy in God alone, and He shall be our peace…
We lay our burdens at Jesus’ feet, cast all our cares at our Savior’s feet. We fall on our faces at Jesus’ feet, and He shall be our peace.
Though kingdoms may rise and fall, Your Kingdom will reign over them all.”