Skillet – Stars

Skillet is a rock/hard rock band formed in 1996 in Memphis, Tennessee.  Combining three people from three previous bands in a “skillet” of sorts, the pan-heads have enjoyed ten studio albums, including:

• Skillet (1996)
• Hey You, I Love Your Soul (1998)
• Invincible (2000)
• Alien Youth (2001)
• Collide (2003)
• Comatose (2006)
• Awake (2009)
• Rise (2013)
• Unleashed (2016)
• Victorious (2019)

Skillet has received 14 awards for their work, including eight Dove, one Billboard, one Drummiest, one Loudwire Music, and one HM.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Skillet-stars-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?

This song is about calling Skillet back into a personal relationship with “you”.  Who is “you”?  Most likely, God, based on:

• His Word causes life to begin.
• He sets the boundaries for the seas and occasionally calms them.
• He puts time and space into being.
• He maintains the stars.
• He is always there.
• He never forgets a name.

In response to God’s calling, Skillet worships, yielding to Him.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song agrees with God’s inspired Word.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: God’s word is powerful.  When He speaks, life begins.  Genesis Genesis 1:3-27 is rife with examples, where each day begins with God’s Word, causing life to start.

Line 2: He sets the boundaries for the seas (Proverbs 8:29 and Jeremiah 5:22).

Line 3: Line 1 is about time and line 2 is about space.  God establishes both.

Line 4: He calls Skillet individually (Isaiah 43:1).

Line 5: Repeats line 4.

[Chorus 1]

Lines 1-4: The same God who puts the stars in place is concerned about Skillet’s hearts (Psalm 8:3-4).

Lines 5 and 6: Skillet surrenders to God (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).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: These are a few examples of things that cannot separate us from the love of God, aligning with Romans 8:31-39.

Lines 3 and 4: Skillet experiences spiritual warfare, causing them to stumble (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: Essentially repeats Chorus 1, line 5.

Lines 6 and 7: See commentary on Chorus 1, lines 1 and 2.

Line 8: This is so because God is omnipresent (1 Kings 8:27, Psalm 139:7-12, Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Colossians 1:17, and Hebrews 4:13).

Line 9: God operates on His timing, not ours (2 Peter 3:9).

Lines 10 and 11: Repeats Chorus, lines 5 and 6.

[Bridge]

Line 1: An indirect reference to God’s love poured out on Skillet while they were sinners (Romans 5:6-8).

Line 2: Nothing (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 51:12, and Hebrews 13:6).

Line 3: Repeats line 2.

Lines 4-6: Repeats lines 1-3.

[Outro]

Line 1: See Chorus 1, line 1.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

It’s hard to say if unbelievers will conclude Christianity or a different deity.  Section 1 lists several attributes and acts of God, with the first pointing specifically to Christianity.  This pointer could be easily missed.  Whoever this god is, Skillet and this supreme being love each other, each willing to sacrifice for the other.

My other concerns are Chorus 2’s lines, “You’re never too far away” and “You never show up too late”.  To an unbeliever, God feels distant, as though He does not exist.  These statements will be tough to swallow, especially for people who lost loved ones.

Score: 6/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as the creator of the universe whose interested in a personal relationship with Skillet.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Skillet’s Stars is a great song.  The God who set the universe into motion is concerned with our lives, gently prodding us to become better people.  This glorifies God.  Unbelievers will comprehend its relational aspect, they might misinterpret it as another deity.  More concerning is their overcoming disappointment, whereas Skill states God is for them when their prayers aren’t answered.

I recommend this song for corporate worship.  For seeker-sensitive churches, consider a sermonette to explain these “never” statements before worshipping with this song.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Stars (listen to the song)

Artist: Skillet

Album: Unleashed

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2016

Duration: 3:45

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