Bethel Music (Feat. Jenn Johnson) – God I Look to You

Bethel Church was founded in 1952 in Redding, California.  They release their music under the label Bethel Music, which became active in 2001.  They produced several albums, so many that I dare not count them all.

They won two GMA Dove in 2016: one is Worship Song of the Year for their work on No Longer Slaves.  The other Instrumental Album of the Year for their album Without Words: Synthesia.

Check out my other Bethel Music reviews.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Bethel-music-god-i-look-to-you-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

God is Bethel Music’s source of:

• purpose
• cure for anxiety
• provision
• wisdom
• power
• buckler
• bedrock

In response, Bethel Music will love and worship God.

Which God is it?  The only hint we receive is the word “hallelujah”, which is used during the Bridge.  It is exclusively used by Jusaizers and Christians who worship the same God.  There’s nothing here mentioned about Jesus specifically, so we’ll just leave it at that.

Side Note: To those who are annoyed by massive repetition, the majority of the song is Bridge, which essentially repeats the same four lines seven times in a row, albeit with slight variants.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of it does.

[Verse]

Lines 1 and 2: Bethel Music wants God to remove their spiritual blinders so that they can see as He does (2 Kings 6:17, Matthew 13:16-17, Luke 24:31, John 3:3, John 9:39, Acts 26:12-18, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, and Ephesians 1:18).  They will not be anxious (Psalm 37:5, Psalm 55:22, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:7).

Line 3: The first part repeats the first part of line 1.  The second slightly rewords part of Psalms 121:2 with the same meaning intact.  It describes God as Bethel Music’s provider (Genesis 2:15-16, Genesis 9:3, Genesis 22:8, Exodus 16:1-36, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 34:10, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 107:9, Proverbs 10:3, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:25-30, Matthew 7:7-8, Matthew 21:22, John 14:13-14, John 14:26, John 15:1-10, John 15:16, Romans 8:32, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8, and 2 Corinthians 12:9).

Line 4: Deep reverence and respect for God leads to gained wisdom (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, and Isaiah 33:6).

[Chorus]

Line 1: The first part is accomplished through obedience (Matthew 25:34-40, John 14:15, John 14:21-24, John 15:10-14, 1 Peter 1:14-15, 1 John 2:3-5, 1 John 4:19-20, 1 John 5:2-3, and 2 John 1:6).  The second informs us that God is Bethel Music’s source of might (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13).

Line 2: The first part repeats the first part of line 1.  The second communicates God as Bethel Music’s defense (Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18).

Line 3: The first part repeats the first part of line 1.  The second tells us that God is Bethel Music’s foundation (Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 18:31, Psalm 28:1, Psalm 62:2, Psalm 94:22, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:19, and 1 Peter 2:6).

Line 4: Bethel Music will persevere to the end (Matthew 24:13, Romans 2:7, 1 John 2:19, and Jude 1:20-25).

[Bridge]

Line 1: For the first part, the word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, Bethel Music sings “we joyfully praise God in song”.  For the second, it describes God as sovereign over creation (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).

Lines 2 and 3: Repeats/essentially repeats line 1.  For the third line, the word “oh” is present, pointing us to Casper the friendly ghost.

Line 4: Combines the first part of Verse 1, line 4 with the first part of line 1.

Note: These lines essentially repeat several more times, with interludes, slight variations, and add-ons from Jenn Johnson that don’t add anything substantive worth reviewing.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Bethel Music prays to and worships God, looking to Him for guidance, protection, and strength.  Based on the word “hallelujah”, they will think it’s either the Christian or Judaism God, which as I said in section 1, are the same God.  The language of this song is simple, everyday, and easy to comprehend.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as the One who receives Bethel Music’s worship, obedience, and praise.  They look to their Ruler for guidance, defense, and help.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Bethel Music’s God I Look to You is Biblical.  It describes God as our source of strength, wisdom, and shield, reminding us that we should look to Him and not ourselves for such things.  God is Lord and King.  These glorify God.  Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.

Though this isn’t my favorite song, it is appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: God I Look to You (listen to the song)

Artist: Bethel Music (Feat. Jenn Johnson)

Album: Be Lifted High

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2011

Duration: 7:33

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