Letters carved on a rock

Photo by Joe Forget

by Vince Wright | October 6, 2024 | 11:59 am

Charity Gayle is an American artist and songwriter.  She released tjhree albums and one EP, including:

  • Divine Exchange – EP (2015)
  • Lord You Are My Song (2017, Deluxe Edition on 2018)
  • Endless Praise (2021)
  • Rejoice (Live) (2024)

Also, check out my review of Thank You Jesus For The Blood.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Charity-gayle-new-name-written-down-in-glory-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.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Gayle is steeped in darkness without hope or a future.  She found Jesus, who changed her from the inside out.  Grateful for His kindness, she praises Him for opening her eyes and trusts Him.  None can take away her belonging to Him.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge essentially repeats the same line 8 times in a row.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song draws inspiration from or directly quotes from Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-7: Gayle traversed from lawbreaking that leads to darkness to life with Christ in the light (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 8: Repeats line 4.

[Pre-Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: Essentially quotes from 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Line 3: Essentially quotes from 2 Corinthians 5:7.

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: Borrows from Revelation 2:17.

Lines 3 and 4: That is, Jesus is Gayle’s (Matthew 28:20).

Side Note: Subsequent repeats of Chorus contain ad-libs.  The only one I want to comment on is the word “hallelujah”.  This 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.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-7: Covered in Verse 1, lines 1-7.  Her victory is in Christ (Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 John 5:4-5, and Revelation 12:10-11).

Line 8: Repeats line 4.

[Bridge]

Line 1: Jesus is the I AM (Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58).  What He has declared, none can annul (Isaiah 14:27).

Lines 1-8: Repeats/essentially repeats line 1.

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: Similar to the famous Kool-Aid Man catchphrase.

Lines 3-6: Gratitude along with “let it be so”.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Jesus, who is explicitly stated in this song, changed Gayle from her former life of self-loathing to living for Him in freedom.  The word “sin”, which would have been ordinarily misunderstood as mere mistakes, is defined in Verse 1 as “shame”.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies the Son of God as the One who rescues people from hellfire into everlasting life with Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Charity Gayle’s New Name Written Down in Glory is Christ-centered.  He liberates us from our former lives of sin and shame that leads to spiritual death, revitalizing our dead spirit into new life that lives for Him.  These points bring Him glory.  Unbelievers should have little to no problems interpreting this song.

This song is suitable for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: New Name Written Down in Glory (listen to the song)

Artist: Charity Gayle (Feat. David Gentiles)

Album: Endless Praise

Genre:  Rock

Release Year:  2021

Duration: 4:18

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

Comments

Jolee

first part: *three*

Oct 07.2024 | 03:54 pm

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