Psalm 115:18 is now available on all streaming platforms!

THE VERSE

But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!
Pero nosotros bendeciremos al Señor
desde ahora y para siempre.
¡Aleluya!

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we released our first Verses song that features half the song in Spanish and half in English! It serves as a reminder that the kingdom of God is a global kingdom, and that like Revelation 7:9 tells us, one day a multitude we couldn’t number even if we tried, will be worshiping before the throne of God. This multitude is made of a beautifully diverse tapestry, woven together with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. As you sing this song, may the different languages be a small representation of this day we each long for and that will carry into eternity… Tribes, tongues, and nations gathered before the throne of God, blessing the Lamb forever and ever! Praise the Lord! ¡Aleluya!

The Song & The Artist

This song was written by John Petterson, a worship leader and songwriter living in Denver, CO. We asked him a few questions:

Was there anything that stood out to you about this verse as you worked on it?

Psalm 115 wrestles with the ways that the God of Israel differs from the gods of other nations. Despite not seeing God (“Our God is in the heavens”) or having control over Him (“he does all that he pleases"), the psalmist points to the lifelessness of idols and calls Israel to trust in the LORD instead. It feels like a rally cry to place hope in God, asking for His blessing regardless of our circumstances or the circumstances of others. It felt particularly powerful to write this song with two different languages represented because of our shared citizenship in the family of God under Christ. No longer divided by boundary lines, the people of God are united by this defiant cry regardless of our circumstances: “But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!”

What was the writing process like?

“I’m newer to writing in multiple languages, so it was a healthy stretch to find ways to unite melodies in a way that made sense within the confines of lyrics already written for me. I enjoyed the process. Beyond that, I’m just humbled and grateful to Natalie and Scott for their incredible contributions to make this track what it is.” - John Petterson

Anything else you'd want to share?

This is much easier to write than to live out, but my prayer is that The Church (read: me and you) would be more and more known for what unites us than what divides us. The easier path is to throw our stones at each other than to build something meaningful with them. May we stand shoulder to shoulder, in humility, as sisters and brothers, praising Jesus now as we will forevermore.

A word from Natalie…

“Psalm 115 was my late grandfather’s favorite Psalm and he used to quote it everywhere he would preach on the streets of Puerto Rico… His last message was on the kingdom of God and he would quote this Psalm. So when Seth reached out about Psalm 115 my heart bursted in joy!” - Natalie Morales

Song credits:

Writing & Vocals: John Petterson and Natalie Morales

Produced / Guitars: Scott Mills

Engineering for Natalie: Seth Dady