Selah – More and More of You

Contemporary Christian trio Selah started in 1997 as a cover band, eventually releasing their music in 1999.  Their name derives from the word “Selah” that appears in the Psalms with an unknown etymology.  They released eleven albums, including:

• Be Still My Soul (1999)
• Press On (2001)
• Rose of Bethlehem (2002)
• Hiding Place (2004)
• Greatest Hymns (2005)
• Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album (2006)
• You Deliver Me (2009)
• Hope of the Broken World (2011)
• You Amaze Us (2014)
• Unbreakable (2017)
• Firm Foundation (2019)

Selah won seven Dove awards, including Inspirational Album of the Year (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2012), Traditional Recorded Gospel Song (2002), and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (2012).

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Selah takes us all through our journey from selfish ambition to followers of Jesus.

Selah starts the song with a brief description of our past self.  We lived for us, not for God.  This striving left us empty and lifeless, desperate for spiritual nourishment.  We ask for God’s forgiveness, wishing to be empty of us and filled with the Holy Spirit.  God gives us more than we deserve and more than we could ask: changed hearts, the Holy Spirit’s Presence, spiritual and (for some) physical healing, and most importantly, a personal relationship with Himself.

In response, we joyfully prostrate ourselves before God, praising Him for His glorious love shown through Christ’s sacrifice.  We are washed by Jesus’ blood, becoming the spotless bride of Christ.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song aligns with God’s inspired Word.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

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

[Stanza 1]

We have had enough
Of getting everything we want
We are weary of
Living this life just for us

We realize that we’re spoiled and spiritually dead (John 3:36, Romans 5:12-15, Romans 8:13, Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-2, Ephesians 4:18, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, 1 John 5:12, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14-15, and Revelation 21:8).

Oh forgive us of
Seeking Your hand and not Your Face
Come and empty us
Father were desperate in this place

We sought to love God like a farmer might love a cow: not for what it is, but for the milk and cheese it provides.  We served money and loved the world instead of serving and loving God (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13, Romans 6:16, James 4:4, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, and 1 John 2:15-16).  Realizing our error, we ask for forgiveness, repenting of their transgressions (2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 38:18, Proverbs 28:13, Ezekiel 18:21-32, Jeremiah 18:8, Jonah 3:1-10, Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:36-38, Acts 3:19-21, Acts 20:21, and 2 Timothy 2:25-26).

[Stanza 2]

Holy Spirit
Fill us with Your fire
Give us Your desires
Hold us close to You

We invite the Holy Spirit to live inside us (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) and aligns their will to God’s (Psalm 37:4).  In turn, God alters our craving away from the world and towards God (1 Samuel 10:9, Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 2:29, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 7:10).  We also wish for the Holy Spirit to hold us experientially (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Holy Spirit
Give us revelation
A healing visitation
Nothing else will do

In addition, we request that the Holy Spirit reveals Himself, accomplished through the prophets (2 Peter 1:20-21), Jesus (John 16:13-15 ), and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), which includes the “healing visitation” that we ask for.

[Stanza 3]

We want more
And more
And more
And more of You

We want more of God and less of us (John 3:30).

[Stanza 4]

You have given us
So much more than we deserve

We deserve 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), but received undeserved favor, known as grace (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).

You deliver us
By the power of Your Word

That is, through the power of Jesus, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:1 and John 1:14), and paid for our lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

So God we lift You up
Giving You the honor that is Yours
Thank you for your love
Father this is what we’re living for

In response to all that God gives us, we praise and worship God.  Though there are too many relevant Bible verses to list exhaustively, 1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11 states that God is worthy of our praise.

[Stanza 5]

Holy Spirit
Fill us with your fire
Give us your desires
Hold us close to you
Holy Spirit
Give us revelation
Healing visitation
Nothing else will do

Repeats Stanza 2.

[Stanza 6]

We want more
And more
And more
And more

Repeats Stanza 3.

[Stanza 7]

Oh the love that covers us
Oh the Savior’s mercy
Oh the blood that makes us spotless Bride

These words describe euphoria: our deep longing to praise God for his sacrifice (see Stanza 4, lines 3 and 4), His grace (see Stanza 4, lines 1 and 2), and Christ’s blood that washes us clean (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).

(Oh the Love)

Repeats first part of line 1.

Oh the love that covers us
Oh the Savior’s mercy
Oh the Blood that makes us spotless Bride

Repeats lines 1-3.

[Stanza 8]

Holy Spirit
Fill us with your fire
Give us your desires
Hold us close to You
Holy Spirit
Give us revelation
Healing visitation
Nothing else will do

Holy Spirit
Fill us with your fire
Give us your desires
Hold us close to You

Repeats stanza 2.

[Stanza 9]

We want more
And more
And more of You
And more of You

Repeats Stanza 3.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will find much of this song easy to interpret.  Words and phrases such as Holy Spirit, God, and Savior points them to a Christian worldview, where Christ-followers tired of living for self are filled with God.  Yes, we cannot expect them to understand this transformation due to lack of experience; However, some may choose to respond.

This song is thick with Christian language and phraseology; However, I can only think of two things that are foreign to those outside Christianity, namely, the meaning of “filled with the Holy Spirit” and “spotless Bride”.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God when we as undeserving sinners could humble ourselves, asking God for forgiveness, the promised Holy Spirit, and abundant life as Jesus’ Bride.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Selah’s More and More of You is superior.  Wicked sinners recognize their spiritual poverty, desperately seeking God’s forgiveness.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, we receive more than we deserve, finding a personal relationship with God, joining the rest of believers as Christ’s bride in worship.  These theologically rich lyrics glorify God.  Unbelievers will undoubtedly catch Selah’s overall message, even if some of its details are murky to them.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: More and More of You (listen to the song)

Artist: Selah

Album: You Amaze Us

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2014

Duration: 3:50

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*Copyright © 2012 Integrity’s Praise! Music (BMI) Jlee Publishing (SESAC) Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Tunes (SESAC) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.