Dear Friends,

Some time ago a man named Michael Card wrote a song called El Shaddai. The music was very simple and the sentiments of the song were quite important.

However, we found the theology of the work misleading and it became important to us to write a new version of two verses, which we initially released as sung by Malonda Hilburn of Kansas City, Missouri. The chorus was rewritten to include the Hebrew names of the One True God, the Father of all Creation, Eloah. The full three verses, which include the sentiments of the wording of Michael’s first verse and in the second verse, are listed below.

This work has now been effectively translated into a number of languages. We wrote a version in Malay, which is being recorded and it will be released on that web site. Versions are also being done in French and Chinese. It will be very interesting to see how it sounds in Mandarin Chinese. We think Malonda was relieved to find we could get one of our Mandarin experts who also sings to do it:-). The brother of the Coordinator for the French work is a musician who is working on the French version. We will also aim at versions in Spanish, Afrikaans and many other languages. This work is now being sung all over the world.

This song is being used as a signature tune for our blog radio broadcasts.

The words of the first line of the chorus mean:

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Eloah, El Adonai
Literally “God Almighty” but more correctly Almighty God, Almighty God, Eloah (which is the singular name of God and admits of no plurality), The Lord God

The first line of the second section of the chorus means:

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Yahovah Sabah Adonai
Almighty God, Almighty God, Yahovah Lord of Hosts (this is a reference to the El Yon or Most High).

Verse 1 is a reference to the Memra or Logos as the Word who appeared to Abraham at the symbolic acts of Abraham and his son. It refers to the Exodus and it refers also to Hagar and the saving grace of Christ in establishing her son Ishmael as well as taking Israel out of Egypt. The Rock in the wilderness from which Israel fed was Christ (1Cor. 10:4).

Verse 1:
Through the Word and through the ram
You saved the son of Abraham
by the power of Your hand
turned the sea into dry land
To the outcast on her knees
You were the God who really sees
and by your Word, you set your children free.

The second verse deals with the plan of God through the Messiah.

Verse 2:
Through the years You made it clear
That the time of Christ was near
Though the people failed to see
What Messiah ought to be
Though Your word contained the plan
They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done
In the giving of Your Son.

The texts in the Scriptures were very clear but the people in Judea, and in Galilee, did not understand the texts of Isaiah, although the High Priest prophesied that year that he had to die for the salvation of many. The Bible was clear that a virgin would bear a child who was to be the Messiah as both the Son of God and the Son of Man. In this act God undertook the redemption of the whole world under the Being He selected and sent to undertake that work (Jn. 3:16; 17:3). That Being gave up his position and became incarnate and died for many as Isaiah 53 states he would. Most Jewish Rabbis of authority admit that if this Being were not Jesus Christ then we have no idea as to whom the Scriptures could refer. The Koran is quite clear that it was Jesus Christ. Thus a Muslim can sing this song alongside a Christian and have no theological differences over any aspect of its wording (see also the paper The Pre-existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243)).

Verse 3 continues ahead to the Return of the Messiah and the establishing of the Millennial Kingdom of God on Earth, as stated in the Bible,

It takes the text that every eye shall see him coming in glory in the clouds from the heavens.
The rule of the saints from Jerusalem is covered in this verse dealing with Revelation chapter 20.

Verse 3:
When Messiah again does come
Through Your power as Your son
We will know our time is nigh
When we see Him in the sky
For a thousand years we'll sing
Under Christ the conquering King
Then we'll see You as You are
The Central Beaming Star.

The last two lines of the verse deal with the post-Second Resurrection Judgment and the coming of the City of God. The concept of Paul in 1Timothy 6:16 where no man has ever seen God, who alone is immortal, nor ever can see Him whilst in human form is the basis, as are Christ’s comments in John (5:37). Thus the coming of the City of God in Revelation 21ff. shows that this unapproachable light referred to by Paul is the centre of the universe emanating from the Glory of God and Christ and which permeates all mankind and the angelic Host as the Temple of God (see the papers Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143) and The City of God (No. 180)).

The song in full is as follows below. We hope you enjoy singing and listening to it, wherever you are, as much as we do.

El Shaddai
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Eloah, El Adonai
Age to age you do remain
By your power just the same.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Yahovah Sabah Adonai
We will praise you O Most High, El Shaddai

Verse 1:
Through the Word and through the ram
You saved the son of Abraham
by the power of Your hand
turned the sea into dry land
To the outcast on her knees
You were the God who really sees
and by your Word, you set your children free.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Eloah, El Adonai
Age to age you do remain
By your power just the same.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Yahovah Sabah Adonai
We will praise you O Most High, El Shaddai

Verse 2:
Through the years You made it clear
That the time of Christ was near
Though the people failed to see
What Messiah ought to be
Though Your word contained the plan
They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done
In the giving of Your Son.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Eloah, El Adonai
Age to age you do remain
By your power just the same.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Yahovah Sabah Adonai
We will praise you O Most High, El Shaddai
Verse 3:
When Messiah again does come
Through Your power as Your son
We will know our time is nigh
When we see Him in the sky
For a thousand years we'll sing
Under Christ the conquering King
Then we'll see You as You are
The Central Beaming Star.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Eloah, El Adonai
Age to age you do remain
By your power just the same.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Yahovah Sabah Adonai
We will praise you O Most High, El Shaddai

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Eloah, El Adonai
Age to age you do remain
By your power just the same.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Yahovah Sabah Adonai
We will praise you O Most High, El Shaddai

Wade Cox
Coordinator General