Hillsong UNITED - Closer Than You Know Lyrics
Released: 31 Mar 2023
Lyrics
I tempered the storm
Though your faith was small
I prayed while you slept
And the night waged war
We stood in the fire
And we walked on sea
And we drank of the wine
That was made of Me
Don't turn your eyes from Me
For My love won't be undone
Don't hide your face from Me
For My light has surely come
Surely come surely come
I carried that cross
And I felt your pain
I took up your crown
And I wore your shame
And death was a fire
And its teeth were grim
But I left it behind
Along with all your sin
Don't turn away from Me
For My love won't be undone
Don't hide your face from Me
For My light has surely come
Surely Come surely come
Lift up your eyes and see
Heaven is closer than you know
Lift up your voice and sing
Know that My love won't let you go
And I won't forsake you
Lift up your eyes and see
Heaven is closer than you know
Know I'll never leave you
So lift up your voice and sing
Know that My love won't let you go
And My light has surely come
Surely come surely come
And I'm closer than you know
And I'm closer than you know
Lord I hear You I know You're there
Closer now than my skin and bones could dare
Breathing deep within me
You are always with me
I can see You where eyes can't stare
Brighter now than the sun could ever dare
Breathing all around me
God I know You're with me here
Lord I hear You I know You're there
Closer now than my skin and bones could dare
Breathing deep within me
You are always with me
I can see You where eyes can't stare
Brighter now than the sun could ever dare
Breathing all around me
God I know that You are here
For I'm Yours and You are mine
And my soul knows well
You are here
You are here
And my soul will praise You
And my soul will praise Your Name
Singing Holy is Your Name
Jesus
Jesus
Video
Closer Than You Know - Of Dirt And Grace (Live From The Land) - Hillsong UNITED
Meaning & Inspiration
Hillsong UNITED's "Closer Than You Know," from their 2023 release *Of Dirt And Grace: Live From The Land (Expanded Edition)*, is a profound testament to God's unwavering presence and redemptive love, offering a deeply encouraging message to anyone navigating life's storms. The song meticulously unpacks the heart of Christian faith, not as an abstract concept, but as an active, intimate relationship. It opens with the powerful imagery of God's intervention even when faith is scarce, recalling His work in guiding and protecting His people through hardship. The lyrics speak of facing adversity together, of shared trials and even miraculous sustenance, directly referencing the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), a foreshadowing of His greater work.
The core of the message revolves around the assurance of God's unshakeable love and ever-present light. The verses vividly portray Christ's sacrifice, detailing His carrying of the cross, His bearing of our pain, and His embracing of our shame and sin, echoing passages like Isaiah 53:4-5 which speaks of Him bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows, and Hebrews 12:2, which highlights Him enduring the cross for the joy set before Him. The imagery of death as a vanquished enemy, overcome and left behind with our sins, powerfully connects to the resurrection and the freedom it offers, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The repeated refrain, "Don't turn your eyes from Me," is a plea for trust and surrender, reminding us that His love is an unbreakable covenant, a truth woven throughout Scripture, such as in Romans 8:38-39, which declares that nothing can separate us from God's love.
The song's climax is a glorious revelation: "Heaven is closer than you know." This is not just a comforting thought but a theological certainty, rooted in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the very presence of God dwelling among us (Matthew 1:23, "Immanuel," meaning "God with us"). It speaks to the accessibility of God's kingdom, not as a distant reward but as a reality made present through faith. The assurance, "My love won't let you go," is a direct echo of Jesus' promise in John 10:28-29, where He states, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." The transition into the personal testimony, "Lord I hear You I know You're there," shifts the perspective from a grand theological declaration to an intimate, experiential knowledge of God's closeness. The lyrics paint a picture of God being more intimately present than our own physical being, "Closer now than my skin and bones could dare," and His light being more brilliant than any earthly source, a testament to His inherent glory and omnipresence, as described in Psalm 139:7-10, asking where one can flee from God's presence. The song culminates in a surrender of the soul, acknowledging this profound truth and erupting in praise for His holy name, reinforcing the ultimate purpose of encountering such divine intimacy: to worship. "Closer Than You Know" is more than just a song; it's an anthem of hope, a reminder of enduring faithfulness, and an invitation to experience the nearness of God in every season of life.