Shane & Shane – Though You Slay Me

Texas-bound contemporary worship music duo Shane & Shane began their career in 2001.  It started when Shane Barnard played solo music, eventually meeting Shane Everett and combining forces in 2002.  Eighteen years later, they released a total of 32 albums (including solo and Christmas), 4 live albums, and 3 EP’s.  This includes:

• Psalms (2002)
• Carry Away (2003)
• Upstairs (2004)
• Clean (2004)
• An Evening with Shane & Shane (2005)
• Pages (2007)
• Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record (2008)
• Everything Is Different (2009)
• The One You Need (2011)
• Bring Your Nothing (2013)
• The Worship Initiative (2015)
• Psalms, Vol. 2 (2015)
• Hymns, Vol. 1 (2018)
• Hymns (Live) (2019)

Also, check out my review of Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy).

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Shane-and-shane-though-you-slay-me-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.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Shane & Shane sinned and know it.  God scorched them for their good, much like a Father disciplines their children.  His purpose is so that they could recognize their brokenness and return to Him for repair, strengthening His relationship with them.

Though He slew them and they make mistakes, they fix their eyes on God.  He paid for their lawbreaking, thinking that the restored relationship was worth the cost.  He is enough for them.

Score: 10/10

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

The lyrics line up perfectly with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-7: Shane & Shane admits fault, that they broke their lives by destroying themselves.  They fell into temptation and experienced temporary separation from God (James 1:14-15).  They return to God, understanding that God allowed them to go through life without Him so that He could mend their broken hearts (Psalm 147:3 and Hebrews 12:4-11), showing how much He loves us by paying for our sins (John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:6-8).  He allowed them to suffer so that they could count these errors as rubbish compared to the value of knowing God (Philippians 3:7-11).

[Chorus]

Lines 1-7: In much the same way that Job, to whom God took away His things and children, chose to praise God rather than curse Him (Job 1:20-22), so too Shane & Shane sings to God in worship.

[Verse 2]

Line 1-4: Combines Psalm 30:1, Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 73:26, and Hebrews 12:2, that Shane & Shane focuses on God instead of their problems.  The same God who allows them to break also repairs and lift them up.

Line 5: Combines John 1:29 and Revelation 5:12.

Line 6: God is in the business of taking the terrible things in Shane & Shane’s lives and turning it around for good (Genesis 50:20).  He thought that paying for our sins was worth the suffering.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: Shane & Shane references what is known as the “cup of God’s wrath” found in Matthew 26:39-42.  In what sense can they cry out “let this cup pass from me”?  The cup that Jesus drank was the wrath of God that we deserve.  I don’t blame Shane & Shane for avoiding it!  I wouldn’t want to drink from this cup either.

Lines 3 and 4: That is, God is their portion (Numbers 18:20, Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 18:2, Joshua 13:33, Psalm 16:5, Psalm 23:5, Psalm 73:26, Psalm 142:5, Psalm 119:57, Psalm 142:5, Lamentations 3:24, and Ezekiel 44:28).

Line 5: Repeats line 4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

It’s hard to say how an unbeliever will receive words such as “struck down”, “slay”, and “slain”.  Those outside the camp of Christ may receive the wrong impression, that God is an egomaniac slave driver who beats down His followers to keep them in line so that they will worship Him.  Others might comprehend the importance of discipline, that the “slaying” is for our good.  It was probably written to believers.

Most will understand that it’s a Christian song, unless they don’t know that Jesus is the slaughtered sheep.  If not Christian, then certainly a song where believers worship God.

Score: 4/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as Shane & Shane humbly returns to God in worship, admitting that they are broken people.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Shane & Shane’s Though You Slay Me is a positive message to believers.  It focuses on hard issues, such as:

• We are responsible for our own mistakes.
• God allows us to suffer so that we will run to Him.
• He disciplines us for our benefit.

Shane & Shane repent of their error and run to Jesus for healing, bringing Him glory.  Their language can be easily misunderstood by unbelievers, that God beats His followers into submission.  Yet, Jesus was also misunderstood, his messages often intended for His closest followers; therefore, feel free to take my criticism with a grain of salt.

This song is perfect for churches that are looking for something deeper than the average Christian song.  It might be a tougher sell for seeker-sensitive churches given the indirect references to beatings and slayings.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Though You Slay Me (listen to the song)

Artist: Shane & Shane

Album: Bring Your Nothing

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2014

Duration: 4:38

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.