10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) was Originally co-authored by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin and is based on Psalm 103:1–5. The song briefly describes five reasons why we should praise and worship God, from the beginning of our day until our day ends for the rest of our lives. After the song’s success and impact, Redman also published a book: 10,000 Reasons: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Thankfulness Inspired by the Worship Anthem.

The song enumerates various attributes of the love of God for mankind that makes Him worthy of “praise unending”, worship for “ten thousand years and then forevermore”. The song uses these attributes: God’s holiness, lovingkindness, slowness to anger, kind heart, His goodness and His great name.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) was released in 2012 as a single and spent 16 weeks at the top spot on Christian Radio and remained number 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs Chart for 13 weeks and was certified gold.

Biblical Basis/Textual Analysis:

Chorus

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name

This section of the song comes directly from Psalm 103:1. The KJV says, “bless His holy name” while other versions use the word “praise”. Using the word “worship” is equivalent and does not change the meaning.

Sing like never before, O my soul

Psalm 40:3, Psalm 96:1–2

I’ll worship Your holy name

Personalized version of line 2.

Verse 1

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

We should praise God all day, every day (Psalm 34:1 and Psalm 113:3). His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).

Verse 2

You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger

Your name is great and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Some of the attributes of God are mentioned here. God’s holiness, lovingkindness, slowness to anger, kind heart, His goodness and His great name.

Psalm 103:8, Exodus 34:5–7, Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Joel 2:13, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 8:9, Jeremiah 10:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 13:6, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:29, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 145:9, Matthew 7:11, Mark 10:18, Luke 11:13, Luke 18:19, Romans 2:4, Philippians 1:6, James 1:17, and 1 Peter 2:1–3.

Bridge

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come

Still, my soul will sing Your praise unending

We will praise God regardless of life or death (Romans 14:8, Philippians 1:20, Philippians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:22–23, and 1 Thessalonians 5:10).

Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Forevermore

There are many Scriptural examples of Biblical individuals expressing their eternal praise, including Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1–2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9–13.

[Outro]

Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I will, worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name

This song beautifully expresses how we are to worship God day in and day out. We worship God because of who He is, and the fact that His attributes are mentioned here helps us to remember who God is as we sing the song. The chorus of the song is great for congregational worship because there are not a lot of words for those who aren't musically inclined to remember.