Lyrics for God Meant It for Good

Where Were You
Based on Genesis 1:1-2; Job 38:4-7; Isaiah 45:18
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Oh, where were you when I laid out earth’s foundations?
Apprise me of all your thoughts can employ
When morning stars sang together in jubilation
And the sons of God shouted for joy

This is the major revelation
From the beginning of the heavens and the earth we see
Though chaos plagued the old creation
It’s conquered by constructive and divine economy

He Who formed and established earth and made it
Created nothing empty or vain
There’s no one else but the Lord of all creation
And nothing higher than His purpose to attain

This is the major revelation
From the beginning of the heavens and the earth we see
Though chaos plagued the old creation
It’s conquered by constructive and divine economy

Tell me if you know
Oh, where were you? Oh, where were you? Oh, where were you?
Tell me if you know
Oh, where were you? Oh, where were you?

Tell me if you know
Oh, where were you? Oh, where were you? Oh, where were you?
Tell me if you know
Oh, where were you? Oh, where were you?

Where were you when I laid out earth’s foundations?
Apprise me of all your thoughts can employ
When morning stars sang together in jubilation
And the sons of God shouted for joy

Abraham’s Song
Based on Genesis 12-13; Hebrews 11:8-19
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Go from your land to a land that I will show
And to all those who would bless you I will bless
And to all those who would curse you, know that they will then be cursed
You’re the blessing of the families of the earth

When we set out from Haran I was seventy five
We left our homeland never to return
And I journeyed toward the mountain, pitched my tent above the plain
Built an altar and I called upon His name

If I die in faith to realize
All God’s promises unsent
My confession is I live the life
Of the altar and the tent

In my journey we came to a place my tent had been
Though the tent had moved the altar still remained
With my brother’s son along the way a conflict did arise
How can we as brothers live with any strife?

If you take the left, I’ll take the right
Choice is not for what my life is meant
My confession is I live the life
Of the altar and the tent

Lift up your eyes, look from where you stand
To the north and south and west and toward the east
Rise up and walk throughout this land
All its length and breadth I’ll give you and your seed

If I long for what I’ve left behind
How could my heart be content?
Shame is not in those who live the life
Of the altar and the tent

In my fullness of age, God gave me a son
‘Twas the only heav’nly promise I received
Yet the altar still awaited since one’s faith is never done
Only God supplies the boldness to believe

If by faith I never compromise
Sage design and providence
God my portion would sustain my life
Of the altar and the tent

If I long for what I’ve left behind
How could my heart be content?
Shame is not in those who live the life
Of the altar and the tent

If you take the left, I’ll take the right
Choice is not for what my life is meant
My confession is I live the life
Of the altar and the tent

Go from your land to a land that I will show

Isaac’s Song
Based on Genesis 26
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Dig up the wells my father made
Call them by the same names
His portion was a life of faith
Mine, inheriting grace

Stake out the camp within the dell
There we’ll find a springing well
Theirs is the claim that leads to strife
Mine, inheriting life

Richer and great I grew to be
Such gave rise to enmity
Destined for joy, yet this I know
God will not let me go

Though wells availed in all the land
Still I came to doubt my stand
Blessings divine can ne’er replace
God’s appearing in grace

I, in Beersheba, will remain
Build an altar, call his name
Draw from the well that flows so free
By the tamarisk tree

Dig up the wells my father made
Call them by the same names
His portion was a life of faith
Mine, inheriting grace

Stake out the camp within the dell
There we’ll find a springing well
Theirs is the claim that leads to strife
Mine, inheriting life

Jacob’s Song
Based on Genesis 25-48
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

I was known as a quiet man
Made my dwelling in tents
Second of sons, known as the one
Struggling without relent

Blessing gained by supplanting ways
Spurred the fury of Edom’s
Anger to slay; I fled away
Yet dreams awaited from God

The God whom my fathers walked with
The Angel who has redeemed me
The One who sustained me when
All I could do was pray
Lord You’re the One I walk with
You’re the One Who redeemed me
You are the God Who shepherded me
All my life to this day

Exiled, sojourning with no home
Stone for my head to rest
A vision I saw, a ladder so tall
Through which Earth would be blessed

Years I labored for one I loved
Only to be deceived
Unrighteousness led me in distress
God of Bethel to see

The God whom my fathers walked with
The Angel who has redeemed me
The One who sustained me when
All I could do was pray
Lord You’re the One I walk with
You’re the One Who redeemed me
You are the God Who shepherded me
All my life to this day

How I prayed for deliverance
From him who would pursue
I, in that place, saw God face to face
There my strength was subdued

Through the loss of the ones I loved
Emptied now I confess
Few were my days; evil my ways
Now with fullness I bless

The God whom my fathers walked with
The Angel who has redeemed me
The One who sustained me when
All I could do was pray
Lord You’re the One I walk with
You’re the One Who redeemed me
You are the God Who shepherded me
All my life to this day

Rachel
Based on Genesis 35:16-20
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

The way from Bethel should have been most joyous
Our second child would come forth anytime
The labor that befell was hardest
Don’t be afraid for you brought forth a son thereby
As my natural choice would die

The sun that sets and rises every morning
It never holds on to its former light
So your soul which dims and fades away
Will yield its light to him who’s born from you to shine
As my natural choice would die

Rachel don’t fear, your sorrow weighs, though not withstanding
Our son shall not be Ben-oni
Letting go–it proves to be the deepest dealing
Our gain required a last goodbye
As my natural choice would die
As my natural choice would die

The pillar on your grave abides unto this day
A testimony of both death and life
And though the path we tread remains unchanged
It’s sojourners are ne’er the same and such as I
As my natural choice would die
As my natural choice would die

Ruth’s Redemption
Based on Ruth 1-4
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Rest had vanished from your former home
Gone was the life that you knew
Hopeless and helpless, your trust had come
To a God you would choose

Gleaning in the fields of grain you were found
Refuged under God’s great wings
Secretly you came in and there laid down
Selfless kindness did you bring

All you lost, I will redeem
Your kindness I have esteemed
Stay and you will receive
My compassion toward you
Your rest shall ever be
My compassion for you

All that you’ve done, my attention caught
How you left your land of birth
Came to a people you kneweth not
God shall recompense your worth

All you lost, I will redeem
Your kindness I have esteemed
Stay and you will receive
My compassion toward you
Your rest shall ever be
My compassion for you

May Jehovah make you as the ones
Who built the house of Israel
May our house be as the chosen son’s
Bringing in Emmanuel

All you lost, I will redeem
Your kindness I have esteemed
Stay and you will receive
My compassion toward you
Your rest shall ever be
My compassion for you

The Birthright
Based on Genesis 25; Romans 9; Hebrews 12
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated
Is there unrighteousness with God?
The lesser would be served by the greater
And his portion would allot

Blessed privilege lost, rooted in profaneness
Breeded tears of deep regret
Time will tell the cost of what we forfeit
Warn us Lord, lest we forget

The birthright I would not despise
No matter what the earthly prize
For God is seeking those who honor it
It’s not of him who wills nor runs
But His mercy on the one
Whom He selected by his sovereignty

Every man is sold under sin’s slavery
Stolen is our joy and peace
How can we be bold with condemnation
Who will grant us full release

Jubilee has come, freedom from oppression
Bonds are broken, blind have sight
The all-inclusive One is now our portion
We’ve come back to claim our right

The birthright I would not despise
No matter what the earthly prize
For God is seeking those who come back to it
It’s not of him who wills nor runs
But His mercy on the one
Whom He selected by his sovereignty

The birthright I would not despise
No matter what the earthly prize
For God is seeking those who would honor it
It’s not of him who wills nor runs
But His mercy on the one
Whom He selected by his sovereignty

The birthright I would not despise
No matter what the earthly prize
For God is seeking those who come back to it
It’s not of him who wills nor runs
But His mercy on the one
Whom He selected by his sovereignty

Moriah
Based on Genesis 21-22; Hebrews 11:8-19
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Endless blessings ever receiving
All to realize just by believing
Free to receive, freely we give

Offering only what is not costly
Ne’er could appease His asking so softly
Of the things most dear to us.

Of His chosen, God had spoken
Visitation was His token
Sarah would conceive a son

And at the time of trial when I’m called could I not say
Here am I
The vision seen at Moriah gave me strength to have the faith
He provides

Tested was the one counted faithful
Tested by the One who is able
To raise men up from the dead

Take your son, your only begotten
Whom you love, I have not forgotten
That he is the promised seed

Rise up early in the morning
At Moriah the burnt offering
Will your only son be to Me

And at the time of trial when I’m called could I not say
Here am I
The vision seen at Moriah gave me strength to have the faith
He provides

The Pearl
Based on Revelation 21:21
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

My Savior’s wound met on the cross inflicted by my sin
Became the stripes whose healing power secreted life within
The balm embracing the contrite heart is scarce met in the world
Of the grains of sand found in the sea, only from the wound comes forth the pearl

He came not for the whole in heart but for those who are ill
Through broken sinners touched by grace is ministry fulfilled
Those mended share in the mending art–a rare trade in the world
Of the grains of sand found in the sea, only from the wound comes forth the pearl

Through His great love the wound of Christ a prison thus became
At home imprisoned in his wound I’d ever thus remain
To death conformed is a sacred lot, though foreign to the world
Of the grains of sand found in the sea, only from the wound comes forth the pearl

To know Christ’s resurrection power and suffering’s fellowship
Supply abundant is required; by Spirit so equipped
No mortal frame can crucify the self, sin, nor the world
Of the grains of sand found in the sea, only from the wound comes forth the pearl

Jerusalem has an entry port unknown among this world
Of the grains of sand found in the sea, only from the wound comes forth the pearl

Severed from This Age
Based on Genesis 6-9; Philippians 2:12-15; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 11:7;
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Wicked is the heart and the thoughts are so evil, I repent
On my part that I sought to make man, and My
Spirit will not strive with them any longer
Lest wickedness continue forever

But Noah was a man in the sight of Jehovah who found grace
For his stand, with a life that would change the age
Shining in a godless generation
Working out with fear his salvation

Severed from this age and its lure
Let Jehovah shut the door
His salvation here we find
We will leave this age behind

Violence fills the earth and the end of all flesh has come
Because of its dearth of righteousness, I do bring the flood
Make yourself an ark for preservation
Reconciling all of creation

Severed from this age and its lure
Let Jehovah shut the door
His salvation here we find
We will leave this age behind

From the day the springs from above coalesced
Until the wings of the dove found their rest, never to return
Eight souls brought safely through by water
Passed through the flood and earth’s slaughter

Severed from this age and its lure
Let Jehovah shut the door
His salvation here we find
We will leave this age behind

As the earth remains, winter’s ice, summer’s heat, and harvest time
Seed time’s rain, day and night shall not cease; and my
Bow is for a covenant forever
And I look upon it to remember

Severed from this age and its lure
Let Jehovah shut the door
His salvation here we find
We will leave this age behind

Joseph’s Dreams
Based on Genesis 37-41; 2 Corinthians 4:13
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Heavenly dreams came at the time of my life
When I thought I knew what was right
Visions of sheaves of life
Sun and moon and stars of light
Stars of light

Words that I said with the best intention
Fell prey to sin’s deception
Yet revealed was how God viewed such ones
As His living, shining sons
Shining sons

And when my hope begins to fade away from me
And dreams aren’t fulfilled right away as it would seem
Such visions would sustain my faith so I could be
In perfect peace and governed by the heavenly dreams

Imprisoned within the walls of uncertainty
In this dungeon dreams never cease
I believe, therefore I speak
Not what I feel but what I see
What I see

And when my hope begins to fade away from me
And dreams aren’t fulfilled right away as it would seem
Such visions would sustain my faith so I could be
In perfect peace and governed by the heavenly dreams

God Meant It for Good
Based on Genesis 37-50
Music and lyrics by Matthew David Fritz

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons
He loved him as the son of his old age
And by his love he made for him a coat of many colors
But through envy, animosity had fueled his other sons’ rage

Then Joseph had a dream one night and told it to his brothers
Your sheaves had gathered round and bowed to mine
And still another dream I had the sun, the moon, and stars
Bowed down to me, yet all could see that Joseph knew not why

His brothers grew in jealousy; his father contained all he could
       Father                contained      all he                          could
What they meant for evil, God meant it for good

Then Israel told Joseph, come, I’ll send you to your brothers
His coat of many colors then they stripped
Let’s see what comes of this master of all dreams with no one to deliver
His life they spared, but without care they threw him in the pit

They spied a band of Ishmaelites en route to Egypt going down
They lifted up devising eyes to gaze
We’ll sell him to the Ishmaelites, and dip his color coat in blood
His father saw, couldn’t bear it all, and mourned for many days

Now Jacob couldn’t understand what God intended that he would
          God       in  –  tended                that  he                       would
What they meant for evil, God meant it for good

Jacob had to now withstand such pain he never knew he could
Pain he         never                        knew he                      could
But what was meant for evil, God meant it for good

When dreams of fate unto him came, Joseph confided in his God
With wisdom unsurpassed, by God he reigned
His storehouse blessed the earth with grain ‘midst famine and amidst affliction
On Israel distress befell, to Egypt down they came

Recalling dreams he’d dreamt of them, he saw and recognized his brothers
They pleaded humbly recognizing not
Through tests of love their hearts declared their guilt and love unto their father;
Cried he fervidly, I am Joseph! He who sent me here was God

His brothers couldn’t understand, what Joseph now understood
       Joseph                 now  he               under      –          stood
What they meant for evil, God meant it for good

It’s often hard to understand, far more be misunderstood
       Far more      be mis     –       under    –             stood
What is meant for evil, God meant it for good
Although intent be evil, God meant it for good