Michael W. Smith – Someday (Set the Children Free)

Michael W. Smith is a Contemporary Christian artist who is a household name.  Smith enjoyed a prestigious career, which started in 1986.  He released many albums, including 15 studio, 4 Christmas, 2 instrumental, and 6 live.  He won 3 Grammy’s and 40 Dove awards and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Michael-w-smith-someday-set-the-children-free-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Speaking for God is a very dangerous prospect which artists ought to handle with care.  Old Testament prophets were killed for falsely speaking on God’s behalf.  Michael W. Smith’s lyrics read as though God is speaking.

God knows that His children pray and long for that day, where they will enter Heaven: a place with no mourning, tears, or darkness. It will be like Eden, where they will be whole, set free from warring against sin.  It is not just a vision or a dream.  He will make it a reality.

Stanza 2, line 2 is unclear.  Depending on how one interprets “all”, it could either be all Christians or all people who enter heaven.  The latter is a serious error.  The former is correct.

Score: 8/10

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

Most of the song agrees with the Bible, except possibly Stanza 2, line 2.

This song does not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge format.  Therefore, I assigned stanzas to each paragraph.

[Stanza 1]

Lines 1-5: God is speaking, aware that His children pray and hope for that day where they would spend their afterlife with Him, without darkness, sadness, or pain (Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:23-25 and Revelation 22:5).

Line 6: For example, the peaceful fruits of righteousness (Hebrews 12:4-11), hope (Romans 5:3-5), and endurance (James 1:2-4).

Line 7: An equivalent rewording of Philippians 4:7.

Line 8: As recorded in Job 23:3, Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:1-2, Psalm 84:2, Psalm 143:6, and Isaiah 26:9.

Lines 9 and 10: That is, He will restore His children to where Adam and Eve were before the fall.  Our former life of struggling and striving will be set free.  He will make all things new (Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:5).

[Stanza 2]

Line 1: There are two interpretations.  Both are Biblically accurate:

1. The word “sun” is wordplay to represent the Son, Jesus, who gives light (John 1:1-8, John 8:12, and Ephesians 5:14).
2. The sun provides the source of light that illuminates the earth.  To find our place in the sun is to exist in the source that provides light, that is, in the presence of God (Revelation 21:4 and Revelation 22:5).

Line 2: This line is unclear.  What does it mean that “all hearts beat as one”?  Is this about the unity of Christians (Philippians 2:2)?  That every knee will bow and confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10-11)?  That all will become believers, which means nobody will experience eternal separation from God (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 20:10 )?  It can be Biblical or unbiblical, depending upon interpretation.

Line 3: That is, to sing with a heart that is innocent and trusts in God completely (Matthew 18:3).

Lines 4 and 5: The subject “I” claims that His Father will set the children free alongside Him.  This informs us that Jesus is speaking.  See commentary on Stanza 1, lines 9 and 10.

[Stanza 3]

Lines 1-5: While some claim that God’s restoration on earth is a pipe dream, Smith trusts in God’s promises covered in previous lines.

[Stanza 4]

Line 1: Probably borrowed from Acts 2:17.

Lines 2-6: The longing described in Jesus, who overcame the world (
John 16:33).  Also, see Stanza 1, lines 9 and 10.

Score: 8/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

I am uncertain if unbelievers will conclude that the Christian God speaks, as opposed to a different deity.  The word “prayer” is a dead giveaway that it’s meant to be religious and the word “I” in context shows that a god/gods speak.  The promises given are attractive; However, “all hearts beat as one” has the potential to support universalism, that everyone’s hearts will enter heaven.

Score: 5/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God in that His promises will come true, its unclear usage of “all” is potentially erroneous, veiling His inherent glory.

Score: 8/10

Closing Comments

Michael W. Smith’s Someday (Set the Children Free) is decent but contains a flaw.  While it accurately portrays God speaking, that He hears prayer and promises restoration for His children, saying that “all hearts beat as one” potentially teaches that everyone will be in heaven, which is false.  Also, unbelievers can easily interpret the subject as any deity who accepts prayer.

Even if the word “all” is addressed, this song would be considered inspirational, but not appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 7.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Someday (Set the Children Free) (listen to the song)

Artist: Michael W. Smith

Album: My Utmost for His Highest – The Covenant

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 1996

Duration: 5:35

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Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.