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“Contemporary Worship is a music group from Contemporary Church of Yeshua in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2020, the band started writing their own songs- songs that are unique both musically and lyrically.”
Source: https://contemporary-worship.com/.
Their debut album Endure is slated for release around April 2023.
Also, check out my review of The Storm.
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?
This song heavily borrows from Matthew 11:28-30, that Jesus asks us to lay our burdens of sin on Him so that we receive His restful lighter load of obedience in righteousness. We who are cleansed by Jesus’ blood respond by declaring Him as our Supreme Ruler whose sovereignty is over all existence. The Holy Spirit is a fire that resides within us.
Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge essentially repeats the same five lines four times in a row, followed by Chorus four times in a row, and Interlude (2) containing fragments of Chorus thereafter.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
The whole song aligns with Scripture.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
Take My yoke upon you
Here is My life
My yoke is easy
My burden is light
Quotes from the first part of Matthew 11:29 and all of Matthew 11:30. Yokes are used to ease the burden of paired oxen who pull a heavy load. Oxen that are placed together are at similar strength and speed. They effectively act as one unit, similar to Christian marriage, where the husband and wife are in one accord.
Contemporary Worship adds that the yoke that is placed upon us is Jesus’ life. By this, Contemporary Worship refers to the teachings that Jesus gave us, alongside His example through His acts on earth. Thus, we who receive His yoke are expected to follow His instructions and live as He did (1 John 2:6).
[Chorus]
We respond
Yeshua our King
You’re Supreme
Yeshua over Everything
In response to receiving Christ’s “burden”, we declare that He is our King (Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 1:32-33, John 12:15, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16) whose supremacy is above all others (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).
The word “Yeshua” is the Hebrew name for Jesus.
[Interlude (1)]
Yeshua, Yeshua
Jesus, Jesus.
[Verse 2]
So come to Me
For I Am your rest
Borrows from the end of Matthew 11:28.
I will end your labor
Make you burden-less
Not that we will cease to work, but that we no longer need to work to attain salvation. Thus, it references spiritual rest (John 14:27, John 16:33, Romans 8:28, and 2 Corinthians 4:8-16).
[Instrumental/Ad-lib]
Yeshua
You’re over Everything
Essentially repeats Chorus, line 4.
Adonai
Hebrew for “My Lord”.
[Vamp]
Yeshua over Everything
Yeshua over Everything
Yeshua over Everything
Yeshua over Everything
Repeats Chorus, line 4.
[Bridge]
I will never look back
Contemporary Worship will not live in the lawbreaking that they were saved from (Romans 6:1-2). Also, see Genesis 19:26, Luke 17:32-33, and Philippians 3:12-14.
Through your blood
You have set me free
You have washed me clean
The cleansing flow of Jesus’ blood frees Contemporary Worship from the consequences of sin (John 15:3, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19), as well as physical and spiritual infirmities (Psalm 119:45, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 12:28-29, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16).
You have placed Your Holy Fire in me
That is, the Holy Spirit lives in Contemporary Worship (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14). He is revealed as a fire in Acts 2:3.
I will never look back
Through your blood
You have set me free
You have washed me clean
You have placed Your Holy Fire in me
I will never look back (never look back)
Through your blood
You have set me free (set me free)
You have washed me clean (washed me clean)
You have placed Your Holy Fire in me (fire in me)
I will never look back (never look back)
Through your blood
You have set me free (set me free)
You have washed me clean (washed me clean)
You have placed Your Holy Fire in me (fire in me)
Repeats/ essentially repeats lines 1-5.
[Instrumental/Ad-lib]
Yeah
Yes.
You placed Your Fire in me, Lord
Essentially repeats Bridge, line 5.
We respond
We respond
Repeats Chorus, line 1.
[Interlude (2)]
Over everything
Yes you are, Lord
Yeshua (is over everything)
Essentially repeats Chorus, line 4.
Yeshua (we call your name)
Yeshua (praise His name)
Yeshua (call His name)
Yeshua (we praise His name)
We call and praise the name of Jesus.
Yeshua
Jesus.
[Verse 3]
Learn My ways
This comes from the middle part of Matthew 11:29, that we should learn from Jesus.
My peace I give
Borrows from John 14:27. Also, see John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15.
No one can hurt you
While you’re in My Hand
Borrows from John 10:28-30. Also, see Psalms 91:10-16.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
They may think it’s Christian if they understand that “Yeshua” is the Hebrew word for “Jesus” and they associate “washed by His blood” with Him. However, there are probably some who aren’t familiar with these concepts. In either case, they will know that “Yeshua” is supreme over everything and offers Holy Fire to exist within us, likely concluding that He is God. He is offering lighter burdens than their present load, which I hope will attract some to learn more about Him.
They will likely question the final lines of this song, interpreting it literally instead of spiritually.
Score: 7/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Yeshua as the Ultimate being in existence, whose blood cleanses believers of their guilt, offering eased and lighter burdens than our former life of sin. However, it doesn’t glorify Him that it says He came to remove us from all burdens when that’s not the case.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Contemporary Worship’s Yeshua over Everything great. It calls for us to place our burdens on Jesus, receiving a restful, lighter load than previously bore. We are cleansed by His blood. We call Him King over everything. These glorify Him. Unbelievers will probably think this song is about a deity named Yeshua who does these things, but perhaps miss the connection to Christianity.
I highly recommend this song for corporate worship. Seeker-sensitive churches should explain who “Yeshua” is before worshipping with this one.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: Yeshua over Everything (listen to the song)
Artist: Contemporary Worship
Album: N/A
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2022
Duration: 7:34
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2022 Contemporary Church Records LLC (BMI). All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Comments
TAG
It is great to hear a song like this. The views differ from mainstream “Christian” music.
Tee
“YOKE” is a coupling, a joining together. This song leaves no doubt in the minds of all listeners who YESHUA wants us to be coupled with or joined with, after all YESHUA is the BRIDEGROOM and HIS Followers are HIS Bride. When we are joined to YESHUA only then can we experience the Joy and rewards of knowing HIM as this song greatly expresses in details, using the WORDS of YESHUA Himself. I love this song!