Story Behind the Song
I wrote this song in the early 80s. However, the January 2000 release that you see here is the first time the song has been performed. Why, you say, would such a powerful and moving praise song be ignored for so many years?
I first introduced the chorus in church while I was music minister at Calvary Chapel right after I wrote it.
This simple chorus was based upon Psalm 73:25-28. At the time I was enthralled with the fact that God is so near to all of us and that he is a refuge whom we can hide in. That last verse of the psalm impressed me. The psalmists reaction to this fact declaring I will tell the whole world of Thy works. This phrase convicted my heart because, though I liked being near to God, my enthusiasm in sharing it with the world was limited. I was excited, though, to share the song with the people whom I was ministering to at the time and immediately took it before them.
I thought it went over very well with the congregation, but the pastors wife apparently didnt like it and complained about the key. The pastor told me that if I wanted to continue playing it I would have to change the key to suit her tastes.
I wasnt much of a diplomat in those days, and I didnt want to change the key, so I just stopped playing it, without saying a word. After that I lost confidence in the chorus and it left my mind.
Then, in the early 90s, I stumbled across it again and became so enamored with it that I wrote verses to the chorus. The verses dwell on the provision of God for the children of Israel in Exodus 13:21-22 where He provided them with a fire by night to lead them through the wilderness and a cloud by day to protect them from the scorching sun. I realized that God is providing for us in that same way even today. Though I loved the results of the song, by the time it was completed our praise group Selah was drifting apart and I had no venue to perform it in. Yet ever since the Wigtune Companys premier on MP3.com I have been wanting to record the song.
Finally, over the 1999 Christmas holiday I found time to compose a musical arrangement. Vanessa immediately fell in love with it, so it was not hard to get her to lay her vocals down. She was so impressed with the final mix that she proclaimed that it was up there with Bless the Lord. (Of all the songs that I have written Bless the Lord is her favorite).
I have to admit, upon listening to the song, I have been almost brought to tears by the beautiful melody as it combines with the personal words that tell of Gods provision for us. I pray that you are blessed by it as much as we have been!
Lyrics
To Be Near You
As for me the nearness of God is my good,
You are my refuge O Lord, You are my refuge O Lord.
As for me the nearness of God is my good,
You are the strength of my heart, You are my portion forever,
And I will tell the whole world of Thy works.
In my darkest hours are where through the years youve shown you care,
Never forsaking me, your faithfulness has proved,
You will be true to what you say,
Seeing your victory Ill aim for the mark youve set before me, Lord.
As for me the nearness of God is my good,
You are my refuge O Lord, You are my refuge O Lord.
As for me the nearness of God is my good,
You are the strength of my heart, You are my portion forever,
And I will tell the whole world of Thy works.
Youre the fire that fills the night leading me within Your light,
Nothing to fear, Lord, in the palm of Your hand,
Under Your cover ing Ive grown to learn to worship You alone,
And I will serve you for the rest of my life.
As for me the nearness of God is my good,
You are my refuge O Lord, You are my refuge O Lord.
As for me the nearness of God is my good,
You are the strength of my heart, You are my portion forever,
And I will tell the whole world of Thy works.
Words and Music Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton
A free chord chart to this song is available at the Wigtune Home Page @ http://userzweb.lightspeed.net/wigton/wigtune.htm
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