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Blessed Be Your Name

Scripture References

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Some may find it difficult to sing this song; it expresses the call of God’s people to bless God’s name even when the road leads through a desert (stanza 2) or suffering (stanza 4). Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10, Question and Answer 28 claims that believing in the providence of God calls us to be not only “thankful when things go well,” but also “patient when things go against us” and to have “good confidence in our God and Father that nothing will separate us from his love.”

 

Belgic Confession, Article 13 testifies that “we rest” in the thought that “nothing can happen to us by chance but only by the arrangement of our gracious heavenly Father, who watches over us with fatherly care.”

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Blessed Be Your Name

Call to Worship

Father in heaven, we give you thanks for life
and for all of the experiences that life brings us.
We give you thanks for joy, hope, peace, and answered prayers,
but we also give you thanks in our trials, sorrows, and pain.
We give thanks for our land,
for the beauty of the landscape,
for the riches it provides for our living,
for the people and cultures among us.
Above all things, we give thanks for our hope in Christ,
the life and freedom that will ultimately be ours.
Teach us to cherish all your gifts.
Teach us also to use all these resources
for the good of society and for glory to you.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
— Worship Sourcebook Edition Two

Additional Prayers

Optional prayer (could be read antiphonally)
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe.
You have created this world in splendor,
and your Spirit renews the face of the earth.
You have made us in your image,
and you renew us in the image of your Son.
You have given us your law,
and your Spirit leads us in the ways of righteousness.
You have grafted us into your covenant of grace,
and you have written your law on our hearts.
You promise to make all things new,
and you give us your Spirit as the first fruits of a renewed creation.
All glory be to you, Lord our God, giver of every good and perfect gift.
Alleluia! Amen.
— Lift Up Your Hearts (http://www.liftupyourheartshymnal.org)
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Blessed Be Your Name

Tune Information

Name
BLESSED BE YOUR NAME
Key
B♭ Major

Recordings

Musical Suggestion

Matt Redman has been an active and well-known worship leader since the early 1990s, and while “Blessed Be Your Name” may not be his most familiar song, it has the benefit of being a “contemporary” song that can be successfully sung by “traditional” congregations. It sings well with guitar and a worship band, but unlike much of the music of its genre it can also be effectively led from a piano without a leading vocalist. It also comfortably fits on a single-page insert with the notation.
 
The text calls worshipers to recognize God’s generous blessings and “turn [them] back to praise”—even in the midst of darkness and suffering (two topics that are often present but carefully ignored during times of celebration). Congregations unfamiliar with the genre should be careful not to sing the song too quickly; the driving baseline walks comfortably at about 110 bpm—a faster pace will destroy the pick-ups to the second and third phrases for most congregations.
 
Tempo can be a contentious topic. Some musicians associate speed with excitement and refuse to imagine that “slow” can also be joyful. One of the keys to effectively singing each of these three songs is ensuring that musicians lead at the appropriate tempo.
(from Reformed Worship, Issue 100)
— Tim TenClay
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Blessed Be Your Name

Hymn Story/Background

On September 11, 2001, Matt and Beth Redman watched, with the rest of the world, a tragedy unfold before their eyes. Four days later, they flew into California to begin a sabbatical. Travelling from congregation to congregation, they encountered a lot of pain and brokenness, but also hope and inspiration from pastors who proclaimed God’s strength and faithfulness. The only thing missing, they felt, was music. They wondered at the lack of songs appropriate for such a time as this, especially in the realm of contemporary music. “The truth is,” they wrote in their book Blessed Be Your Name, “the Church of God needs her songs of lament just as much as she needs her songs of victory.” A few weeks later, Matt and Beth sat down and wrote this song, not specifically for the tragedy of 9/11, but because “we will all face seasons of pain and unease. And in those seasons we will need to find our voice before God.”
— Laura de Jong

Author and Composer Information

Beth Redman is an author, singer-songwriter, and advocate. Her books include God Knows My Name: Never Forgotten, Forever Loved; Beautiful: How to Be A Beautiful Woman of God in a Cosmetic World; and Soul Sista. She is an ambassador for A21, an organization aimed at preventing human trafficking. Beth has co-written a number of songs with husband Matt, including “Let My Words Be Few” and “You Never Let Go.” The couple have five children.
 
Matt Redman (b. February 14, 1974) began leading worship full-time at age 20, serving churches in Chorleywood, Brighton, West Sussex, and Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked with Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio for the Passion Conferences. He is known for songs such as “The Heart of Worship,” “Better is One Day,” and “Blessed Be Your Name.” His 2012 song “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord),” co-written with Jonas Myrin, won two Grammy awards in 2013. Redman has written a number of books, including Mirror Ball and The Unquenchable Worshipper. He and his wife Beth have five children, and are currently based at St. Peters Church in Brighton, England.
— Laura de Jong

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