Hillsong UNITED – Desert Song

Hillsong Church is a megachurch founded in 1983 in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia.  It was formerly led by Hillsong Founder Brian Houston.  Hillsong possesses a massive discography, spanning across four music ministries.  These include Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free, and Hillsong Kids.

Hillsong has won several awards within their Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Worship artist groups.  As of this writing, there are no awards for Hillsong Young & Free or Hillsong Kids.

Also, check out my entire list of Hillsong reviews and Christmas songs, Seasons and Prince of Heaven.

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?

Hillsong prays for several things:

1. God will continue to sustain them when they feel parched and lonely.
2. Their faith will remain firm when tested by trials and tribulation.
3. They will emerge victorious through God as a co-heir.
4. They will pass on the faith that was given to them.

Hillsong worships God, declaring God as their success who is present with them.  He is God, no matter what happens.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge repeats the same five lines four times in a row.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song agrees with God’s inspired Word.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

Jesus went through a desert in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13.  He was likely hungry.  When tempted by Satan to turn the rocks into bread, Christ’s response was to quote Deuteronomy 8:3: Man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord.  In similar fashion, God provides for Hillsong’s needs (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), regardless of how they feel currently.

[Verse 2]

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me, Lord, through the flame

Trials and tribulation refine Hillsong, that they acquire the perfect fruits of righteousness (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4), proving that their faith more valuable than money (1 Peter 1:7).

[Chorus]

And I will bring praise

Hillsong worships God (Psalm 86:12, Psalm 103:1-2, Psalm 103:22, Psalm 119:10, and Psalm 138:1).

I will bring praise

Essentially repeats line 1.

No weapon formed against me shall remain

Essentially quotes from the first part of Isaiah 54:17.

I will rejoice

See line 1.

I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Hillsong testifies that God is their victory (Romans 8:37 and 1 Corinthians 15:57) and is present, pointing to the Holy Spirit who lives inside them (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).

[Verse 3]

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

See Chorus, lines 5 and 6.  Also, according to Romans 8:17, they will be joint heirs with Christ with the understanding that Hillsong doesn’t share equal status with Jesus.

So firm on His promise I’ll stand

That is, Hillsong trusts that God will keep His promises based on His timing, not theirs (2 Peter 3:9).

[Bridge]

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Though there is a time for many seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13) and unchanging (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, and James 1:17).  His existence, alongside His acts described throughout this song, causes Hillsong to sing and worship Him.

[Verse 4]

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

This combines Jesus’ parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15 with the concept of harvesting.  Those who take Jesus’ words and put them into practice are filled with God and are poured out into others, sowing seeds that produce a crop.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The words “God”, “Christ”, and “worship” point unbelievers toward the Christian worldview.  Hillsong uses language that combines Christianese with everyday, making it simple for those outside Christianity to comprehend.  Unbelievers will likely conclude that Hillsong prays to God for nourishment, increased faith, triumph, and strength to continue spreading Christianity. Hillsong praises God.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as Hillsong’s source of victory, object of their affection, and recipient of their many prayers that He will fulfill in His timing.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong UNITED’s Desert Song is amazing.  It provides four prayers that every Christian should pray: provision, endurance, victory, and evangelism.  That is, God will provide for our needs, help us to endure hardship and testing, emerge victorious over said testing, and to proclaim Christ to others so that they will become followers of Jesus.  This, combined with our praise and worship, glorifies God.  Unbelievers should have little to no issue interpreting similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track:  Desert Song (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Hillsong UNITED

Album: Tear Down The Walls

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2009

Duration: 4:41

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*Copyright © 2007 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.