We all have an unlikely hero to thank for one of the newest songs on Air1 Radio.
Legendary artist Chris Tomlin and his wife were looking for a guard dog, and their search led them to a small town in South Carolina. A man named Bill, who was selling a German Shepherd the Tomlins were interested in, recognized Tomlin. Bill, a deacon at a local church, began to share about the music of his church’s band, who are now known as The Heritage.
In a video on The Heritage’s YouTube channel, Tomlin shared how Deacon Bill’s relentless passion led him to listen to one of the band’s songs. Tomlin was impressed by their work and reached out to them directly. Tomlin’s interest and support led to a recording contract with a major label and The Heritage’s first commercial album.
Bill’s faithful and passionate advocacy for the music written by his church’s youth and worship pastors changed their lives and impacted everyone who has been ministered to by the songs of The Heritage. The band was faithful in writing and recording the music, and God was faithful in using the songs as He saw fit. In the words of Pastor Craig Groeschel, “Obedience is our responsibility, and outcome is God’s.”
“A Fresh Hallelujah” is The Heritage’s first song on Air1 Radio, and it overflows with Scripture-inspired lyrics and the kind of faith embodied by Deacon Bill. The second verse echoes one of the most beloved passages in the Old Testament, Lamentations 3:20-24. The prophet Jeremiah writes this Biblical book from a place of deep grief, as the Babylonians have destroyed Jerusalem and the people have been exiled to Babylon for their sin and idolatry. As Jeremiah processed his grief, he renews his faith and praises God for His faithfulness.
“I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
When your life takes a massive turn towards fame and material success due to deacon in your church relentlessly sending your music to Chris Tomlin, it can be overwhelming. In the band’s first podcast interview with The Artist Interview show, Josiah Phillips describes his desire to stay humble and focus on God’s calling to serve their church family. “"I pray that we would all protect our hearts, that we would be focused on the mission to reach people for Jesus" Philips words embody the warning of the writer of Proverbs. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
The origin of the title for The Heritage’s “The Fresh Hallelujah” is found in the song’s chorus, where the band sings,
“I won’t let the rocks cry out
I won’t let them take my place
I sing a fresh hallelujah.”
The chorus echoes the words of Luke 19:40, where the Pharisees rebuke Jesus and try to quiet his followers who are offering praise during his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Just as the Pharisees tried to silence praise during Jesus' triumphant entry, we sometimes let circumstances, routine, or discouragement quiet our own voices of worship. “To which Jesus replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
I'm so grateful for this new song, "A Fresh Hallelujah" from The Heritage. They remind us that our praise is a response to God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. After all, in light of all He's done for us and in us, what's a reasonable response on our end? A Fresh Hallelujah!
God's mercies are new every morning, and our praise should reflect that freshness. When we've experienced His faithfulness in new ways or gained fresh awareness of past mercies, we don't need to rely on yesterday's gratitude or last Sunday's songs. We don't have to say "I already thanked God for that" or settle for going through the motions of worship.
God is worthy of a fresh hallelujah! As The Heritage sings, He is "the God who never fails," and our lives can echo His praise with renewed passion and genuine gratitude.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
