Written with congregational singing in mind, Psalm 23 has been moved from an individual perspective to a group one so we can sing the truth of these beautiful and ancient words together.
I often imagine David fleeing into the desert, being pursued by his enemies, being scared for his life. And yet in the midst of all that, he writes songs because his focus is what God has promised, what He is doing and what He is going to do. Psalm 63 says "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."
I wrote this song because, like David, that is what I want to focus my mind on. I want to sing in the shadow and shelter of His wings. To be nestled into him, to hear his heartbeat. My foes are different to David's but I need God's help to battle them.
Psalm 17 v 6-8 says: "I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings"
John Grummitt, Mary Elizabeth Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull
I was singing this hymn devotionally one day when I simply carried on into a chorus because I felt a need to follow up a devotional verse with a chorus that committed me to practical application. I went with it, and this is what I came up with. I subsequently used it at church the following Sunday and it went down very well. Now I just need Chris Tomlin to cover it, and I can retire. In the meantime, you could use it!