I Am With You

Inspiration & Overview

I wrote this song on November 3, 2012 after being inspired by Cliff Graham‘s amazing book, “Day of War,” which is a fictional account of the battles and life of David and his mighty men. They are currently working on turning his book into an epic movie, and the action filled sequences from the pre-visualization work they have done helped inspire the tone and theme for this song. My dad turned me on to the books as he spent several weeks this past summer at the YWAM base in Kona working on the engineering plans and building of the new studio where the movie for “Day of War” will be produced. David L. Cunningham, who also directed the movie “To End All Wars,” will be producing and directing, along with screenwriter John Fusco, who penned the script for “Hidalgo.” You can check out more about the books and movie here:

Official Author Web Site: cliffgraham.com
Official Move Site: lionofwar.com

The cover art I created for the song has a similar style to the book cover art since it is inspired by the Lion of War series. The lyrics come mostly from Isaiah 41:9-16 along with some passages in Psalms and other scriptures. The song is written as a promise from the perspective of God that no matter what challenges or temptations we might face, that he will be with us and give us his strength!

“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
—Isaiah 41:9-13

This song is a bit of a battle cry from the Lord, calling us to wage battle with the forces of this world that would try to draw us away from him. It pulls from numerous Psalms where the Lord is described as our rock and fortress, our refuge and shield. He does not expect us to go into battle without him, but rather to rely on his power and strength instead of our own for as it says in Ephesians “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
—Ephesians 6:10-13

In the following sections I will breakdown the verses and choruses alongside with the scriptures that influenced and inspired them. At the end you can read the full lyrics as well as listen to an acoustic demo of the song. We are still working on recording a full-band version in the studio so stay tuned!

Verse 1

Your enemy, he lies in wait
Just like a lion stalks his prey
Don’t be deceived by the tricks of his trade
He’ll entice awf’lly nice, draw you in
It will seem such a sweet temptation
“What will it hurt if I just give in?”
Famous last words from the dead man walkin’

The opening scenes of “Day of War” are an inspiring battle between Benaiah and some lions and show what happens when we seek God’s protection and “covering” in the battles we face. Whether those battles are physical confrontations or internal temptations—we must battle and not give ground to them.

The first verse begins by drawing on those scenes with the lions and Benaiah to compare them with how our adversary the devil lies in wait and tries to tempt us and trip us up.

…like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
—Psalm 10:9

In reality he is a toothless lion whose only tactic is to roar and hope he startles us away from our Rock and stronghold in Christ. Therefore we must remain grounded on the Rock of Christ and rely on his strength to see us through.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
—1 Peter 5:8-10

We need to stand firm against the wiles and temptations of the devil, for if we are drawn away and enticed as it says in James the end result is our death. It truly is a battle and I was challenged to seek God’s covering, the kavod, by reading these Old Testament stories brought to life in a new way through Cliff’s books.

…but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
—James 1:14-15

Chorus 1

But I am, I am with you
Though the battle rages on
I’ll put strength back in your arms
No, you’ll never fight alone
I’m with you

There are two different choruses used in this song. The first one is a shorter view on the theme that God is telling us “I Am with you” in the midst of the struggles and battles we face and that he will give us strength to see them through to victory.

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
—Psalm 18:31-32

Even when we might be ready to call it quits and our feeble arms give way, still he sustains us and gives us his strength.

You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.
—Psalm 18:35

I love this passage in Psalm 89 that describes how David found favor in the sight of the Lord and God promised to sustain him and strengthen his arms in battle. Truly we serve a living God who is mighty and powerful and worthy of our praise! We need to remember when those battles come up in our lives that we need to show those around us his peace that passes understanding, rather than giving in to fear or weariness and defeat. For we do not have to rely on our own strength, but on his which will never falter or fail!

Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people. I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
—Psalm 89:19-23

For he has promised that he himself will go with us and fight against our enemies; indeed, he has already won the victory over death!

For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
—Deuteronomy 20:4

We need only to stand firm on his promises and believe that he who promised is faithful to deliver!

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
—Exodus 14:13a, 14

Verse 2

Whatever challenges you face
Know that I will give you strength
Don’t give fear the upper hand
You can overcome all the giants in this land
When the lion roars, you roar back
For your God is greater than his attack
All who wage war against you
Will soon be blown away like chaff

The imagery from the second verse comes from a few different passages but focuses mainly on the fact that God is our strength and we need to trust in him. It is a reminder to not react like the Israelites when the spies saw the giants in the land of Canaan and they were overcome with fear. Instead we need to respond like Caleb and recognize that with God’s help we can truly overcome any giants we might face; whether they are financial, physical ailments, disease, inner battles with our flesh, whatever they may be—with God’s help we are more than conquerors!

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
—Numbers 13:30

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
—Romans 8:31,35,37

As long as we stand firm and resist, the devil has no power as Christ has vanquished death and overcome. Therefore when that toothless lion roars we know we can roar back. For greater is he who is in us, than he who is in the world!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
—1 John 4:4

And if we rely on God’s strength and remain in his will he will fight for us and turn our enemy into chaff that is blown on the wind.

Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
—Isaiah 41:2

Chorus 2

I am, I am with you
I will be your strength and shield
Scatter all your foes
Though you search for enemies
None will oppose
I am the Lord your God
Do not fear, I am here
I am with you

The main chorus pulls from the passage found in Isaiah 41 that portrays God as our source of strength, as our shield against our foes. It declares in verse 12 that “Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them” for our God is victorious and has already won the battle! We do not need to give in to fear for as God says in verse 10 “do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God!”

Here is the passage in full that was the main inspiration for the backbone of this song and that became the main chorus.

“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
—Isaiah 41:9-13

Bridge

I’ll be your rock, I’ll be your fortress
Stronghold against the darkness
I’ll be your spear, I’ll be your shield
The Word of Truth revealed
I’ll be the arrows from your bow
Drive your enemies before you
Though you walk through the Valley of Death…

The bridge pulls from several places in Psalms that describe God as our rock and fortress, our stronghold and shield.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
—Psalm 18:2

As the famous 23rd Psalm proclaims, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death he is right there with us and we have no need to fear!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
—Psalm 23:4a

These verses from Psalm 18 really sum up well the imagery of God as our shield and refuge, our stronghold and help in time of need. With his help we can defeat any enemy that opposes us, because it is God who fights for us. His saving help is our shield!

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.
—Psalm 18:29-35

Next time you are feeling tempted or overwhelmed I pray that the words of this song might remind you to draw on his strength, for truly our God is with us!

Lyrics

I Am With You