Worship music with a message
Sound Bites
I first heard of Paul Wilbur about 20 years ago when he released such albums as “Jerusalem Arise!” and “Come Let Us Go Up to Zion” from Integrity Music. Two decades have passed and Wilbur is still partnering with Integrity and continues to create and perform worship music with the Messianic message — Jesus is Messiah.
Wilbur’s website says he has been a worshipper for 38 years, and his career attests to that. Wilbur’s most recent release, “Forever Good,” contains 10 worship songs produced by Dan Needham and C. Ryan Dunham. In keeping with his Messianic style, Wilbur’s latest project has a distinctly Hebrew tone throughout. He also takes numerous Scripture references, particularly Psalms, to supplement or inspire his work.
“Forever Good” opens with the simple melody of “Where Could I Go?”
As the song progresses, the refrain opens up the lyric, “Where could I go? I could not run from You, Yeshua?...Your love would find me there, Yeshua.” (Psalm 139)
King of Glory takes its inspiration from Psalm 24:8 (KJV), “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Its rendering gives this familiar song a triumphant tone in keeping with the Scripture’s message. “Lechu Neranena L’Adonai” is an old world-sounding tune that presents the text of Psalm 95:1-7 in English and in Hebrew.
“Blessed is He Who Comes” is a reflective take on the coming of the Messiah, past and future. ‘I believe the Son of Man, Yeshua our Messiah/ Is the Lamb of God who broke the curse and made a living way/ With a trumpet blast, He will come again .... Jerusalem will sing, “Baruch Haba.”’ The title track is another quiet track that affirms God’s goodness.
As the album continues, “Call on the Name” references another scripture passage that encourages listeners to accept the salvation of our God. Acts 2:21 says, “... whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” “Adonai Elohai”, the final track on the album, (The Lord My God) speaks of God with awe - of how the same God that authored creation can be called our own. “You hold creation in the hollow of Your hand/ Yet Your glory longs to dwell in hearts o f man...There is no one like You/ You are God alone.”
Wilbur is an experienced artist with a heart for Christ. His use of Scripture in his music expands the listener’s heart to hear the words of the Bible set to new tunes and, perhaps, enter the heart and provide a clearer message. Wilbur worships wholeheartedly on “Forever Good”. As a listener, I felt privileged to join him on this musical journey and share in the experience of worship. Tracey Evison, a musician and educator on P.E.I., writes this column for The Guardian every second Saturday. She can be contacted by email at trevorandtracey@ pei.sympatico.ca.