The Belonging Co (Feat. Danny Gokey) – Every Victory

The Belonging Co is a relatively new American Contemporary Christian worship band.  Much like Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation Worship and their respective organizations, this band originates from The Belonging Co church.  Created in 2017, they hail from Nashville, Tennessee.

They released three albums, including:

• All the Earth (2017)
• Awe + Wonder (2019)
• See the Light (2021)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/The-belonging-co-every-victory-live-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

This song’s primary theme is about Jesus’ triumph over everything He touches, tranquilizing His foes with His words. This includes wars waged, natural phenomena, fallen angels, the religious elite, and death itself. He is the Sovereign Ruler over all existence, whose strength is unmatched and reign will never end.

In response, we His children fix our eyes on Jesus, prostrated before Him in awe and recognizing our victory comes from Him. His lovingkindness brings us great joy.

While many of my reviews deduct points for Word of Faith proclamations, this song isn’t saying that God is victorious over every battle we face.  It’s saying that when successes occur, God gets all the credit.

SIde Note: To those sensitive to massive repetition, the song’s second half becomes increasingly repetitious, especially its second Refrain.  This is very common with live versions.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song radiates with Scriptural references.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-4: The Belonging Co refuses to remain afraid (Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18), fixing their eyes (Hebrews 12:2) on the One who is stronger (Genesis 1:1-31, Job 11:7-11, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Jude 1:24-25) and greater (Deuteronomy 10:17, Psalm 8:3-4, Psalm 147:5, Job 26:14, Isaiah 40:28, and Isaiah 55:8-9).

[Chorus]

Line 1: All victory belongs to Jesus. The Belonging Co expounds upon this in Interlude.

Line 2: Borrows from Psalm 8:2 and Psalm 143:12.  Also, Christ’s voice silenced the storm (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22–25), demons (Mark 1:21-26, Mark 1:34, Mark 3:11-12, and Luke 4:35-41), and religious leaders of His day (Matthew 22:23-46, Mark 12:13-34, and Luke 20:27-40).

Line 3: The Son of God is the eternal Ruler (Exodus 15:18, Psalm 10:16, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 92:8, Psalm 145:13, Psalm 146:10, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:3, Daniel 4:34, Daniel 6:26, Micah 4:7, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6, John 12:15, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, 1 Peter 5:1, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16).

Line 4: Yes, praise the name of Jesus (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 14:33, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 28:8-9, Matthew 28:16-17, Luke 24:50-53, John 12:13, and John 20:28)!

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Borrows heavily from 1 Samuel 17:1-58, that Christ’s power was manifest through David.  Also, see Chorus, line 1.

[Interlude (1)]

Line 1: That is, the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9).

Lines 2-5: Quotes from 1 Corinthians 15:57, making the point that the victory belongs to Jesus, not us.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: Continues the same point from Interlude, lines 2-5.

Line 3: Christ rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) and reigns (see Chorus, line 3).

Line 4: Death itself is dead (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 2:14, and Revelation 20:14).

Line 5: That is, hades or “the grave” (see line 3).

Line 6: Repeats line 3.

Lines 7 and 8: Repeats line 2.

Line 9-11: Repeats lines 3-5.

Line 12: Repeats line 3.

[Interlude (2)]

Lines 1-4: The lyrics build on the same sentence, proclaiming hope in Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6).  He is the source of our power (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).  Also begins the first of many calls to Casper the friendly ghost.

Line 5: Combines the joy that comes with delighting ourselves in Christ’s love (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 37:4, Romans 15:13, Philemon 1:7, Hebrews 12:2, and 1 Peter 1:8) with more Casper call-outs.

Line 6: See Verse 2, line 2.

Line 7: See commentary on Chorus, line 2, specifically on demons.

[Refrain]

Line 1: References Casper the friendly ghost.

Line 2: Quotes from the last part of 1 Samuel 17:47, maintaining the same concept as Interlude, lines 2-5.

Line 3: Repeats line 1.

Line 4: See Interlude, lines 2-5.

Lines 5-9: Essentially repeats lines 1-4.

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.  Also alludes to Interlude, lines 2-5.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The Belonging Co’s language leans heavily on everyday with a smattering of easily understood Christianese terms and concepts such as “hell”, “Jesus”, and “death buried in the grave”.  Unbelievers should easily interpret this song as Christian, alongside Christ’s many accomplishments and properties described in section 1.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God by describing His many attributes and acts that compels us to follow and bow before Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

The Belonging Co’s Every Victory is praiseworthy.  It credits Jesus as the One who is victorious over every war He wages, including nature, demonic spirits, religious rulers, and death.  We respond in awe and worship, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers should easily conclude similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship for congregations that embrace medium levels of repetition.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Every Victory (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: The Belonging Co (Feat. Danny Gokey)

Album: See the Light (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 8:48

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