Matt Redman is a British Christian songwriter, and was one of the main wors… Read Full Bio ↴Matt Redman is a British Christian songwriter, and was one of the main worship leaders associated with the Soul Survivor organization. He is now with Passion Conferences and an artist for Six Steps Records. He has authored and edited multiple books on Christian worship, including "The Unquenchable Worshipper" and the book Facedown which accompanied the album. Some of his most popular songs include Heart Of Worship, Let Everything That Has Breath, Once Again, and Blessed Be Your Name, the latter winning the "Worship Song of the Year" award in the 2005 GMA music awards.

He has since launched another album, Beautiful News, and continues to write many more popular songs such as You Never Let Go and Shine.

Songfacts states that Redman's eighth album 10,000 Reasons, was co-written with several of his friends. He then recorded the songs live in Atlanta, leading worship for over 1,000 worship leaders during LIFT: A Worship Leader Collective, put on by Passion City Church and sixstepsrecords on February 18 and 19, 2011. It sold nearly 7,000 units its first week in the US, almost doubling Redman's previous album release We Shall Not Be Shaken. The LP entered the Billboard 200 at #66, his biggest debut to date.

The Friendship And The Fear
Matt Redman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You confide in those who fear You
Share the secrets of Your heart
Friendship give to those who seek to
Honour You with every part
Though I'm one of unclean lips, Lord
I am crying "woe is me"
Trying now to rid myself of
All the things that hinder me from

Knowing You
Hearing You speak
Seeing You move mysteriously
Your whisperings
In my soul's ear
I want the friendship and the fear
Of knowing You

There is one thing You have spoken
There are two things I have found
You, O Lord, are ever loving
You, O Lord are always strong

I am longing to discover
Both the closeness and the awe
Feel the nearness of Your whisper
Hear the glory of Your roar, just...

Knowing You
Hearing You speak
Seeing You move mysteriously, yeah
Your whisperings, oh
In my soul's ear
I want the friendship and the fear

I want the friendship and the fear
Of knowing You

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Matt Redman's "The Friendship And The Fear" revolve around the concept of seeking a deeper relationship with God. The first verse speaks about those who truly fear the Lord and the secrets they share with Him. The lyrics suggest that those who seek to honor and obey God are given the gift of true friendship. The lyrics also touch on the idea that even though the singer is a sinner, they long to rid themselves of anything that hinders their relationship with God.

The second verse acknowledges that God is both loving and strong. The singer expresses their desire to experience both the closeness and the awe of God. The lyrics reveal a longing to hear God's voice, feel His nearness, and experience the power of His glory. Finally, the chorus repeats the desire for both friendship and fear, the deep and intimate knowledge of God.

Overall, the lyrics suggest a deep longing for a personal relationship with God, rooted in love, respect, and reverence.

Line by Line Meaning

You confide in those who fear You
You entrust Your innermost thoughts and feelings to those who have a deep respect and reverence for You

Share the secrets of Your heart
Revealing the most intimate aspects of Your being

Friendship give to those who seek to
Establishing a relationship of mutual affection with those who actively strive to

Honour You with every part
Demonstrate honor and respect towards every facet of Your being

Though I'm one of unclean lips, Lord
Despite my lack of purity and righteousness

I am crying "woe is me"
I am lamenting my shortcomings and inadequacies

Trying now to rid myself of
Making a conscious effort to eliminate

All the things that hinder me from
The obstacles and hindrances preventing me from

Knowing You
Having a deeper understanding of Your character and nature

Hearing You speak
Actively listening to Your voice and guidance

Seeing You move mysteriously
Observing and experiencing the inexplicable and unfathomable ways You operate

Your whisperings
The subtle and gentle nudges of Your Spirit

In my soul's ear
To the depths of my spirit and innermost being

I want the friendship and the fear
Desiring both the intimacy and affection of a close friendship with You, as well as a healthy level of reverence and respect

There is one thing You have spoken
You have made one thing abundantly clear

There are two things I have found
I have come to realize and understand two things for certain

You, O Lord, are ever loving
Your love is eternal and unchanging

You, O Lord are always strong
You are consistently and infinitely powerful

I am longing to discover
I have a deep desire to unearth

Both the closeness and the awe
Both the intimacy and affection of a close relationship, as well as a profound and healthy respect and reverence

Feel the nearness of Your whisper
Experience the intimacy and closeness of Your gentle nudges and whispers

Hear the glory of Your roar, just...
Hear the majesty and power of Your voice and authority

I want the friendship and the fear
Desiring both the intimacy and affection of a close friendship with You, as well as a healthy level of reverence and respect

Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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