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SERIES: Song in Word

About This Series
Through the ages, the church has put scripture to music. With the recent impact of phat beats, deep grooves and head-bob motions accompanying melodies, we decided to switch it up a bit and examine the meaning of some of the hottest songs on Gospel radio. The aim is to break down the lyrics of a particular song as it relates to the Word of God —Song in Word.

In this segment, Troy McIntosh examines “One Thing”, the smash hit from Marvin Sapp. Troy McIntosh is a Chicago-based songwriter and artist.
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One Thing —David's Desire
from Marvin Sapp's song "One Thing"


Have you ever been so hungry that all you can think about is food? When we are really hungry, it becomes difficult to listen to others, difficult to concentrate; our only focus is getting something to eat—and fast!

Troy McIntosh
Troy McIntosh
Inspired by David’s lyrics in Psalm 27 4-6, Myron Williams penned “One Thing” on Marvin Sapp’s recent project Diary of a Psalmist. The Psalms represent the clearest, most perfect example of how God likes songs to be written; full of lyrical beauty, doctrinal direction and Christ content. They give us a glimpse into what pleasures God in worship. In this Psalm, David shares his heart and hunger for the Lord and along the way he provides an example of an extreme desire for the Lord. Let’s take a closer look at the content of David’s Desire.

Singular Desire —One Thing
What do most Christians desire? What do we pray for? What do we most want from God? If you listen to Christian talk, television and radio, it would soon become clear that in North America, Christians are in love with material blessings, physical healings, and financial comfort. We have come to believe that through God and faith we can achieve our material dreams. David’s desire however is focused on one thing and one thing alone —intimacy with God.

The Song Basics
The Song: "One Thing"

The Lyrics:
"One thing have I desired from the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a Rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yea I will sing praises unto the Lord." (Psalm 27 4-6.)

The Artist: Marvin Sapp

The Album: Diary of a Psalmist (Verity Records)

The Songwriter: Myron Williams

The Psalmist has decided to seek God and God alone. In the face of unlimited choices to satisfy his flesh through material, physical and leisurely pleasures, David makes His proclamation to make God his only focus.

Note here that David is not saying that God is His primary focus, but rather that God is his only desire. David has not only ranked God first, but He has gotten rid of all other desires.

Seeking Desire — ...have I desired from the Lord that will I seek after.
The word in the Hebrew here for “seek” is baqas. It means to “seek to secure”, or “to seek the face of”. Later in verse 8, David writes, “ ‘seek my face’, my heart said to You, ‘Your face O Lord, I shall seek.” David’s desire for intimacy with God includes a fervent, heartfelt plan to chase after God. It is not a casual nor lackadaisical approach but rather a plan with some teeth. David has truly developed a plan that will bring Him to the face of God. What does your plan for intimacy with God include? In the case of David, it was more than morning devotion and Wednesday night bible study: It was an all consuming, "restructuring" of his life around the purposes of Yahweh.

Dwelling Desire — …that I may dwell in the house of the Lord.
Boy, this doesn’t sound real exciting does it? I mean can’t you come up with something more engaging and interesting than simply “dwelling in the House of the Lord” David? In the
Marvin Sapp's Recording
Click for review Click for review Click for review Click for review Click on the art above to get to the recap of the live recording of Marvin Sapp's Dairy of a Psalmist album.

New Testament we learn that the tabernacle and the temple are both types for the Person of Jesus Christ. Christ is said to have “became flesh and dwelt among us” . The word for “dwelt” is skenoo which means “to fix or dwell in a tabernacle.” In the book of John we read, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up...But he was speaking of the temple of His body (John 2:19, 21). When David speaks about a desire to “dwell in the House of the Lord”, he is speaking of more than merely hanging out in a physical location. His heart is fixed on abiding in Christ. His mind is set on constantly enjoying the presence of the Lord. In the New Testament the Lord Jesus encourages us to abide in Him (John 15:4-10) that our “joy may be made full”. Even before the Messiah had come in the flesh, David had a desire to dwell in the intimacy of the Son of God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ!

Consistent Desire — ...all the days of my life.
Everyday is a good day to serve the Lord. Many of us have desires that begin at Sunday school around 10 AM each Sunday and end at service’s close. David is showing us here that his desire for God is ongoing. The desire for intimacy does not begin with heaven, is an everyday, consistent focus on intimacy with Christ everyday, all day. No vacation; no summer sabatticals, no weekends off, no “waiting until I am older”, no “let me finish school first”. This is a desire for intimacy “all the days of his life and it is not limited by plans that get in the way of God.

Christ Desire —…the shall set me up on a rock.
The place of security from all of the things David is running from is Christ. Christ is the Rock upon which we are secure. David is sharing with us that the by setting him upon a Rock that God has given security in the person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament we learn that Christ is this Rock. The Rock that gives security, foundation, and salvation (I Peter 2:8, Matt 7:25, Rom 9:33, I Cor 10:4)

Marvin Sapp's Recording
Click for review Things start off with a song from Myron Williams titled "One Thing", inspired by Psalms 27.4. Building slowly to a fiery finish, the song is sure to keep the worship and praise team late on Wednesday and up early on Sunday with its punchy bottom and never-ending bass drive.

See album review.
Worshipful Desire — And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yea I will sing praises unto the Lord.
David is a worshipper. His desire results in worship, sacrifices, singing and praises unto the Lord. Why is he worshipping in the midst of struggle, abandonment, lies and danger? He is glorying in the object of His desire—God Himself. Throughout Psalm 27, we learn that David's parents have forsaken him (v.10) he is in constant danger (v.1-2) and adversaries have attacked his name (v.12). However, even in the midst of everything in His life being in shambles, he continues to worship God in patience (v.6,12). David’s worship is not contingent on circumstances, pleasures or even safety, but rather it is dependent on the person and character of God. He is satisfied with the face of God alone!


Study Questions
  • What other “desires” in your life are competing with your desire for Christ?

  • What specific actions can you take to structure your day-to-day life around seeking the face of God? How can you re-order your priorities to reflect an ongoing plan to seek the face of God?

  • Is your worship based on the person of God (His qualities, person, character), or the blessings of God (what God has given you). How can you balance your worship to include God's Person and His blessings?

  • Are you easily distracted by outside distractions that impact the fervency of your worship for Christ? How can you protect your worship form external distractions"



Special to Gospelflava.com by Troy McIntosh




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