Our God Will Go Before Us: The Hymns of Matt Boswell and Matt Papa Vol. 3
****

With their third volume of modern hymns in the past five years, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa have served the church well with theologically sound hymns for congregational singing. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three volumes, and this one will again be one of my favorites – perhaps the favorite – albums of the year.
The album was recorded live at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at the 2023 Sing! Conference. I enjoy hearing the crowd and conference choir adding their vocals to these songs. You can watch/listen to the performance of each song here.
There are a few guest artists on the album – Matt Redman, Sandra McCracken, Kristyn Getty, and Michael Cochran.

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

• More of this review
• Music News
• Song of the Week Lyrics ~ All of My Days by Ellie Holcomb

Here are a few brief comments about each of these twelve hymns:

The Lord Almighty Reigns – This uplifting song was written by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, and Matt Papa. It originally appeared on Keith and Kristyn Getty’s album Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.
Key lyric:
Certain of that day
Christ we will proclaim
Oh, that more would share the prize
Salvation in His name

All My Boast is in Jesus – This joyful anthem was written by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, Keith Getty, and Matt Papa.
Key lyric:
All my boast is in Jesus
All my hope is His love
And I will glory forever
In what the cross has done

I Set My Hope (Hymn for a Deconstructing Friend) – This song was written by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Keith Getty, and features Kristyn Getty on vocals.
Key lyric:
I set my hope on Jesus
My rock, my only trust
Who set His heart upon me first
I set my hope on Jesus

His Mercy is More – This song, inspired by John Newton, was written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. It originally appeared on their album His Mercy is More: The Hymns of Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. The song features Michael Cochren of Cochren & Co. on vocals. The slide guitar gives this version of the song a more country music feel.
Key lyric:
Praise the Lord!
His mercy is more.
Stronger than darkness; new every morn;
Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more 

Our God Will Go Before Us – This song was written by Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, and Matt Papa. I enjoyed the drum work on this song.
Key lyric:
Our God will go before us
The Lord of Hosts is with us
O praise the One who leads us on
For His grace will bring us home

Bring Praises – This joyful song was written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa.
Key lyric:
Bring praises, bring praises
Forever to the Lord
Bring praises, bring praises
Together
To Him who is worthy, to Him be endless thanks
Forever to His name bring praise

Not to Us (One Name Forever Shall Be Praised) – This song was written by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Matt Redman, and features Matt Redman on vocals.
Key lyric:
One song will ring through the ages
One throne will ever remain
This world will pass and its glories fade
One name forever shall be praised

The Matchless Name of Jesus – This hymn of praise was written by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Matt Merker.
Key lyric:
We sing the name, the matchless name of Jesus
We hymn the name the angels long adore
From age to age, one chorus rings forevermore
To the matchless name of Jesus Christ the Lord

God of Every Grace – This hymn of praise was written by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty, and features Sandra McCracken on vocals. It was themes of hope, trust, and comfort.
Key lyric:
Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace

I Know That My Redeemer Lives – This inspiring anthem was written by Kristyn Getty, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa, and Laura Story, and originally appeared on Keith and Kristyn Getty’s album Christ Our Hope in Life and Death. The song builds powerfully as we can sing with confidence that our redeemer lives!
Key lyric:
My redeemer lives
My redeemer lives
On heaven’s throne, and in my very soul
I know that my Redeemer lives

Run and Run (Christ Is All My Righteousness) – This upbeat hymn was written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa.
Key lyric:
Praise the Lord
Oh, my soul, praise the Lord
Now and forevermore my heart confess
Christ is all my righteousness
Christ is all my righteousness

Completely Known, Completely Loved – This song, which was inspired by the teaching of Tim Keller, was written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa.
Key lyric:
Completely known, completely loved
I’m covered by my Savior’s blood
I’m robed in white and God is pleased
To see His Son, when He looks on me 

I enjoyed each of these songs. If I had to pick favorites, they would be:
The Lord Almighty Reigns
All My Boast is in Jesus
I Set My Hope (Hymn for a Deconstructing Friend)
Bring Praises
The Matchless Name of Jesus
Run and Run (Christ is All My Righteousness)
Completely Known, Completely Loved

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• Precious Love. Enjoy this performance of “Precious Love” by Chris Tomlin at Good Friday 2023 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
• Crimson Dust. Watch this video of Michael W. Smith performing his new song “Crimson Dust.”
• He is Moving. Here is the second song released from Sandra McCracken and Ben Shive’s songwriter-neo-classical project The Still Point.

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All of My Days by Ellie Holcomb

This week’s song of the week is “All of My Days,” the title song from Ellie Holcomb’s new Psalms EP. The song was written by Holcomb and Jac Thompson and produced by Thompson and Holcomb’s father Brown Bannister.

Here is the lyric video for the song.

[Verse 1]
Walk me by the quiet waters
Lay me down in your green pastures
Be my shepherd
Be my comfort in the valleys low
[Pre-Chorus]
Lead me on the path that’s narrow
Guide me through the darkest shadow
I will fear no evil
You are with me where I go
[Chorus]
You’re here
You prepare a table before me
You’re here
In the presence of my deepest pain
You’re here
And my cup is overflowing
‘Cause all your goodness and your mercy follow me 
[Refrain]
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
[Verse 3]
Walk me by the quiet waters
Lay me down in your green pastures
Be my shepherd
Be my comfort in the valleys low
[Pre-Chorus]
Lead me on the path that’s narrow
Guide me through the darkest shadow
I will fear no evil
You are with me where I go 
[Chorus]
You’re here
You prepare a table before me
You’re here
In the presence of my deepest pain
You’re here
And my cup is overflowing
‘Cause all your goodness and Your mercy follow me 
[Refrain]
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
[Bridge]
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
I won’t want because you, you’re my good shepherd
You restore my soul
And my cup is overflowing
I will never walk alone for you are with me 
[Refrain]
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
All of my days
Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh
All of my days
Oh-ooh, oh, oh, oh
All of my days