This is our God” by Phil Wickham
https://philwickham.com/
Biography:
Philip David Wickham (born April 5, 1984) is an American contemporary Christian musician, singer and songwriter from San Diego, California. Wickham has released ten worship albums: Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, Singalong in 2008, Heaven & Earth in 2009, Response in 2011, Singalong 2 in 2012, The Ascension in 2013, Sing-A-Long 3 in 2015, Children of God in 2016, Living Hope in 2018, Hymn Of Heaven in 2021 and I Believe earlier this year (2023) He has also led worship at Soul Survivor. His critically acclaimed single “This is Amazing Grace” became RIAA certified Platinum and topped the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay chart.
Wickham was raised in a Christian home, the second of three children (brother Evan, sister Jillian), and began leading worship for his youth group at 13 years old.In 2002, he graduated from Calvary Christian School in Vista, California. As of 2021, Wickham’s father, John Wickham is a musician and a worship leader, and both of his parents were members of Jesus movement band Parable at one time. His older brother, Evan Wickham, is also a musician, who used to serve at Calvary Chapel in Vista, and later became pastor of Park Hill Church in San Diego, California.His parents, John and Lisa (née Irwin), encouraged Wickham to learn popular praise songs and to write his own.
Wickham attends Light Church, a small chapel based in Encinitas, California.
Analysis:
“This is our God,” is a fantastic song for those who are going through difficult times. It is a song for those who are hurting, down on their luck, or even going through a crisis. If you are there, or heading in that direction, then look no further because Phil Wickham has done it again!
The song starts off with loud electric guitar chords, drums, and cymbals to grab hold the attention for the listener. It serves as a wonderful, and “catchy” tool that really draws the listener to hear a truth from God.
Verse 1
Remember those walls that we called sin and shame?
They were like prisons that we couldn’t escape
But He came, and He died, and He rose
Those walls are rubble now
Verse 2
Remember those giants we called death and grave?
They were like mountains that stood in our way
But He came, and He died, and He rose
Those giants are dead now
The first two verses dive in to a reality that each human being faces sometime during their lifetime. Its primary focus is remembering the times in life where we once thought that we were so far from the Lord from all of the sin that had controlled our life. Sin and shame are natural occurrences in the lives of all Christians, and they resembled prisons and mountains. They kept a “tight grip” on us and were obstacles and or barriers that once kept us away from the heart of God. Phil Wickham and his band amuse the listener with clear vocals, and passion throughout the verses.
Phil Wickham then reminds the listener that even though you may feel as if you are beaten down by life, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior came, died, and then miraculously rose to life from the grave. Isn’s it a wonderful reminder that if Jesus can conquer death, than what sort of problems in our lives are too powerful for Him to overcome them?
Mark 16:5–6: “As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!
What a wonderful reminder that nothing can stand in the way of our Lord.
Chorus
This is our God
This is who He is, He loves us
This is our God
This is what He does, He saves usHe bore the cross, beat the grave
Let Heaven and Earth proclaim
This is our God, King Jesus
The chorus is a reminder that the Lord is here for us, and that He loves us. Jesus Christ is always there for us, and it is our privilege to proclaim it all over the world that Jesus Christ is the true King.
Verse 3
Remember that fear that took our breath away?
Faith so weak that we could barely pray
But He heard every word, every whisper
Now those altars in the wilderness
Tell the story of His faithfulness
Never once did He fail, and He never will
The third verse is a verse that may lead others with many questions. For those who grew up in the church, and or consider themselves Biblical scholars, one can see that Phil Wickham reminds the listener that the Lord hears every single word that we utter, as well as every single whisper.
“Now those altars in the wilderness” verse sheds light upon the many years that the Israelites were in the wilderness.
Numbers 14:34 “‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years — a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.
It is right after this verse that Phil Wickham adds another chorus, then hops right into the bridge:
Who pulled me out of that pit? He did, He did
Who paid for all of our sin? Nobody but Jesus
Who pulled me out of that pit? He did, He did
Who paid for all of our sin? Nobody but Jesus
Notice how this part of the song is still rising with excitement, joy, and wonder of the Lord our God in all that He has done for us!
The bridge serves as a fantastic reminder that the Lord is in control, is superior in all of His ways, can conquer the grave, is is ultimately worthy of all of our praise and attention.
The song ends of course by repeating the truth that Jesus is our God. It serves as a reminder that no matter what you are going through, remember that the Lord has and will conquer anything that you are going through, wants to hear from you, and is worthy of all of our praise and worship, which sheds light on how appropriate it is for corporate worship.
“This is our God,” by Phil Wickham is an amazing song that truly will live through the ages. It is a song that not only draws one to closer to the Lord, but serves as a reminder that we serve a God that is much bigger, more powerful than all of our problems.
Take a listen, and add it to your playlist!
Take care, and God Bless!
- Kyle :)
