Bethel Music (Feat. Paul McClure) – Reign Above It All

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-reign-above-it-all-live-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?

Its major theme contrasts two kingdoms: Christ’s Kingdom and the kingdom of darkness.  Jesus’ finished work on the cross began the process of crumbling Satan’s kingdom.  Jesus is Lord over everything, not in the sense that all hearts are sinless or yield to His will, but that He is sovereign over everything He created.  Yet, Christ-followers have surrendered, worshipping the Son of God for His lovingkindness.  The Father set His name above all others.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge repeats the same two-line phrase six times in a row.

Score: 10/10

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

All of it lines up perfectly with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: Reign of darkness represents Satan’s rule and reign, while the Kingdom of Light is Bethel’s equivalent to the Kingdom of God.  In the places where the Kingdom of God exists, Satan’s terror fled.  This happens in the past, present, and future.  In all these instances, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8); that He would rescue us from darkness’ domain (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Line 3: Repeats line 2.

Lines 4 and 5: Bethel Music surrenders to God’s will (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

Line 6: Repeats line 5.

[Chorus (1)]

Lines 1 and 2: God is 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).  While He doesn’t “rule every heart” in the sense that every person yields to God, every knee will bow and confesses Christ as Lord (Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10-11).

Line 3: That is, the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9).

Line 4: Reveals “You” as Jesus.  See line 1.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: As stated by Jesus in John 19:30.

Lines 2 and 3: Describes the Great Exchange; Our sin for His righteousness (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Lines 4-6: Forgiven Christians worship Christ (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 14:33, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 28:8-9, Matthew 28:16-17, Luke 24:50-53, John 12:13, and John 20:28).

[Chorus (2)]

Lines 1-4: Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-4.

Lines 5 and 6: 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, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.  Also, see commentary on Chorus (1), lines 1 and 2.  Specifically, the last sentence.

Lines 7-9: Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus (1), lines 3 and 4.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: See commentary on Verse 1, lines 1-5.  Also, according to John 13:31-32, John 14:13, John 17:1-4, Philippians 1:9-11, and Philippians 2:9-11, glory also belongs to the Father. However, according to John 17:1, both the Father and Son glorify each other. When we consider their one-ness (John 10:30, John 14:9, and John 17:21-23), all glory given to Jesus also belongs to the Father.

Lines 3 and 4: Repeats lines 1 and 2.

Line 5: Calls to the crowd to join Bethel in song.

Lines 6-13: Repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Interlude]

Lines 1-5: Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus (1), lines 3 and 4, combined with another call to the crowd to sing.

[Outro]

Lines 1-8: Essentially repeats Chorus (2), lines 1-8.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Bethel Music uses everyday language to point unbelievers into this dual kingdom contrast described in section 1.  They explicitly state that Jesus rules everything and that He finishes His work on the cross, making it obvious that it’s Christian.  Christians praise Him, believing that His name is above others.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the Ruler of creation, who paid the ultimate sacrifice to rescue us from the domain of darkness.  We glorify Him through our worship.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Bethel Music’s Reign Above It All is Biblically sound.  It describes His Kingdom that defeats the kingdom of darkness, ruled by Christ whose loving sacrifice makes forgiveness of sins possible.  Christians glorify Him through worship.  Unbelievers should easily interpret it.

Though not my personal favorite, this song is appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Reign Above It All (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Bethel Music (Feat. Paul McClure)

Album: Revival’s In The Air (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 5:48

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.