Photo by Preston Goff
In much the same structure as the “big three”, Hillsong, Elevation, and Maverick City Music, River Valley Worship is a church-led band. Held together by a conglomerate of worship pastors and songwriters.
They released eight albums and two EPs, including:
- You Are/I Am (2012)
- All in All (2012)
- Sounds Like Victory (Deluxe Edition) (2014)
- Edge of Heaven (2016)
- Million Lifetimes (2018)
- Million Lifetimes: Deconstructed (EP, 2018)
- Altars (2020)
- River Valley Worship: The Ensemble Project (EP, 2021)
- Attention (a Devotional Project) (2022)
- Faith in Our Time (Live) (2022)
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/River-valley-worship-sanctuary-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 this artist’s theology’s potential blessings and dangers by visiting Resources.
1. What message does the song communicate?
God:
- Is mysterious
- Loves
- Rules the universe
- Endwells within believers
- Sanctifies
- Incomparable
- Strong
- Glorious
River Valley Worship:
- Wonders why God loves them
- Is a living temple to house God
- Yields
- Desires eternity with God
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
These lyrics reflect Scripture.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1 and 2: The second line quotes from Psalm 8:4, which is indeed a mystery.
Line 3: As shown on the cross (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:9-10).
Lines 4 and 5: He is Lord of all 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).
Line 6: See line 3.
[Pre-Chorus]
Lines 1 and 2: River Valley Worship is asking God to purify their hearts (Psalm 51:10-12).
[Chorus]
Lines 1 and 2: That is, a living temple for God to dwell (2 Corinthians 6:16-18).-18).
Lines 3 and 4: Repeats lines 1 and 2.
[Verse 2]
Lines 1 and 2: Borrows from Zechariah 13:9 and Malachi 3:3.
Line 3: Summarized in Philippians 3:8-12.
Line 4: River Valley Worship surrenders to God (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 5: That is, eternal life with God (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).
Line 6: That is, Jesus (Isaiah 45:21-22, Hosea 13:4, Luke 1:47, Luke 2:11, Acts 13:23, 1 Timothy 2:3, Titus 2:13-14, and 1 John 4:14).
[Bridge]
Lines 1 and 2: See Chorus, lines 1 and 2.
Line 3: The first part references Psalm 72:19. The second is from Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13.
Line 4: Repeats line 2.
Lines 5-8: Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1-4.
Side Note: The audio for this repeats lines 1-4 again before lines 5-8.
[Interlude]
Line 1: Casper the friendly ghost.
Line 2-4: Essentially repeats the part of the last line of Bridge.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
This song is written in everyday language with terms such as “God”, “Father”, and “sanctuary” that point them to a religious worldview. That God indwells within River Valley Worship should take them to Christianity. The rest is easy to comprehend.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God as the One who saves, redeems, cleans, loves, and indwells within His people.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
River Valley Worship’s Sanctuary is Biblical. It reminds us that God is in control, purifies our inner being, and that we should desire more of Him in surrender. These bring Him glory. Unbelievers should find no trouble interpreting similarly.
This song is suitable for corporate worship.
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: Sanctuary (listen to the song)
Artist: River Valley Worship
Album: N/A
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2021
Duration: 4:40
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Comments
Jolene Smarther
but do they glorifiy Jesus?? For as Jesus said in John 14:6 Jesus saith to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me. I often wonder when people sing about God and He and Him, to which god are they singing!
Steve Barhydt
It’s pretty clear from verse 1, who they are singing to…
‘God of all the universe
Holds the world and holds my heart in wonder
Loving Father’
According to Jesus Himself, He and the Father are one. John 10:30-38 (KJV)
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
You have quoted John 14:6, but ignored the rest of the passage John 14:6-11 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
The Father and the Son, although separate and unique are also One. Men far wiser than me have been unable to explain exactly how the Trinity works, but it is a fundamental truth of the Christian faith.
Therefore, when we worship the Father, as this song primarily does, we are also worshipping Jesus and the Holy Spirit.