Paul Wilbur is an American singer-songwriter, worship leader, and pastor in… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Wilbur is an American singer-songwriter, worship leader, and pastor in the Messianic music genre. He has produced six albums under the Integrity Music label and appears with other artists on albums produced with Israel's Hope. He has also produced three albums in Jerusalem, Israel; and most of his albums in the United States.

His life - Extract from Wilbur Ministries

The world’s opera stages and synagogues were the ambition of a determined young man named Paul Wilbur. A passion for the arts and music took him from under graduate school in Cleveland, Ohio across the Atlantic to study in Milan, Italy. There he was instructed in vocal technique, Italian, and opera by some of La Scala's most skilled mentors.

“By the time I had returned from Italy the direction of my life had been pretty well set in stone,” Paul says. “The life of Richard Tucker had become a pattern to success that I wished to emulate. Here was a Jewish man, who was one of the world’s most revered operatic tenors, and who also honored his religious tradition by singing under the domed roofs of the world’s synagogues.”

“I was pursuing a Master’s Degree in vocal music performance at Indiana University, and the things that normally attract a young man were also attractive to me: music, my friends, and girls! As I pursued relationships, inevitably two things happened: I would ask a girl out for a date, and they invited me to church.” The writing was on the wall.

“It was like I wore a t-shirt that said, ‘Please…somebody take me to church.’” Well, it was during one of those “church dates” that Paul encountered Jerry Williams, a young man from West Texas whose testimony and friendship would soon change his life forever.

“I was completely taken by Jerry’s love and passion for God, although I had never met him. From the very first time I saw him ‘perform’ I understood that he was not singing about God, rather he was singing to Him."

This experience, along with powerful teaching from the Scriptures, continued to draw Paul back for services week by week. He joined a Bible Study in his graduate dorm and became hungry for anything that could teach him about the God of the Bible.

One Sunday the church announced that anyone who would like a free meal would be paired with a church family. Paul signed up, but then had second thoughts.

“I was picturing this grandma and grandpa, and my payment for eating their dinner was going to be hours of conversation sitting in a room with quilts over our laps looking at pictures of their grandchildren,” he recalls. But try as he might, Paul could not get out of the commitment. When he arrived at the apartment for dinner, he was completely overcome to see the young man whose music had touched him so deeply several months earlier. It was just a few weeks later on a fishing trip to Tennessee that Jerry introduced Paul to his Messiah; March 26, 1977.

Together with their friend Ed Kerr, Paul and Jerry formed the popular contemporary Christian group "Harvest". They traveled and ministered together, and recorded several albums with the Benson Record Company.

“What an incredible time this was in my life,” Paul says. “But the call to bring the Gospel back to the Jewish community grew stronger and stronger in my heart." After nearly five years with "Harvest", Paul yielded to this call and moved his small family to the Washington DC area and a fledgling Messianic congregation, called Beth Messiah.

“For two years I worked odd jobs and found part-time work to pay the bills until the Lord brought together three Jewish men and called them Israel’s Hope. We traveled and ministered together for more than eight years recording several albums on the Maranatha! record label.”

Music, Teaching & Mercy Ministry

Today Paul’s ministry is as worldwide as his music. “God’s grace is truly amazing, as we have ministered in more than sixty nations, recorded in four languages, and have witnessed thousands set free by the power of God's love.”

One of the aspects of this ministry that may not be apparent at first glance is Paul’s commitment to the marriage of music, ministry, and acts of mercy. “As we travel to the nations we seek to bring a larger expression of the Kingdom of God in a practical way. Dr. Paul Williams staffs free medical clinics to minister to the needs of the poor; Paul Cuny brings MarketPlace Ministry to the business community; Messiah Company brings the beauty of movement to worship, while Paul stirs the hearts to worship and evangelism."

Paul sees his calling to the Church and the Jewish community, and to build bridges of reconciliation between them. His latest recording for Integrity, The Watchman, is a stirring call to the Body of Messiah worldwide to take up their place on the walls of their lives, congregations, cities, and nations—to be faithful, prayerful, and watchful during what he calls “this most prophetic hour.”

"The Watchman" was recorded at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio with Pastor John Hagee. It has since been re-recorded in Spanish with live audiences in Costa Rica and Guatemala and is called "El Shaddai".

Discography - Albums

* Arise O Lord (with Israel's Hope) · 1987
* Up to Zion · 1991
* Shalom Jerusalem · 1995
* Lion of Judah · 1995
* Holy Fire · 1997
* Jerusalem Arise · 1999
* Heal Our Land · 2000
* Mas de Ti · 2000
* Lion of Judah . 2001
* Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem · 2002
* The Watchman · 2005
* El Shaddai . 2005
* Praise Adonai . 2007
* Live - A Night of Extravagant Worship 2008

Compilations

* Adonai

See also

* Harvest
* Jerry Williams

External links

* Wilbur Ministries

I Will Never Leave You
Paul Wilbur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I will never leave you I will not forsake you*
I will always be with you

Look here comes that Pharaoh marching with his army
Where do we go
We get through the Red Sea turn around no army
Where'd they go

Those three Hebrew children thrown into the fire oh no
They threw in three but four I see oh come on now
Who could that be

When you call My name I will lift you up
I am faithful and I am true
Rejoice be glad for I have heard you I'll deliver you
I''ll deliver you

See those Persian armies mock the God of Abraham

They think they're gonna prove Him wrong but you just watch
Cause they don't understand I will never leave you

Overall Meaning

The song "I Will Never Leave You" by Paul Wilbur is a powerful and uplifting song of faith and trust in God. The lyrics speak of God's promise to never leave or forsake us, no matter what trials or hardships we may face in life. The opening lines make it clear that God is always with us, and will never abandon us: "I will never leave you, I will not forsake you, I will always be with you."

The next lines refer to the biblical story of the Israelites escaping from Pharaoh's army by crossing the Red Sea. Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their path, God made a way for them to pass through safely, and even caused the waters to close behind them so that the pursuing army could not follow. This story is a powerful reminder that no matter how difficult our circumstances may seem, God is always working on our behalf and will provide a way out.

The song then turns to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Hebrew children who were thrown into a fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar. Despite the intense heat and danger, God miraculously intervened and saved them, appearing in the furnace as a fourth figure. This story illustrates God's faithfulness to those who trust in Him, and His power to protect and deliver them from harm.

The chorus of the song reassures the listener that God will always answer when we call on His name, and that He is faithful and true. He hears our cries and will deliver us from whatever troubles we may be facing, just as He did for the Israelites and for the three Hebrew children. The final lines remind us that even when our enemies mock us or try to prove us wrong, God is always with us and will never leave us.

Overall, "I Will Never Leave You" is a song of hope and encouragement, reminding us that we can trust in God's promises and rely on His unfailing love no matter what. It reminds us of the power of faith in the face of adversity and the certainty that we are never alone.

Line by Line Meaning

I will never leave you
I promise that I will always remain by your side

I will not forsake you*
I will never abandon or give up on you

I will always be with you
My presence will be with you through thick and thin

Look here comes that Pharaoh marching with his army
A powerful enemy is approaching and we feel helpless

Where do we go
We are unsure of what to do next

We get through the Red Sea turn around no army
God miraculously saves us from our enemy's attack

Where'd they go
Our enemies vanished and we are in awe

Those three Hebrew children thrown into the fire oh no
People are being persecuted for their faith

They threw in three but four I see oh come on now
God supernaturally saves those who trust in Him

Who could that be
God's presence is with us even in the midst of hardship

When you call My name I will lift you up
God listens and answers when we call out to Him