Steven Curtis Chapman - A Desperate Benediction Lyrics
Lyrics
Peace on the mountain peace in the valley
Peace on the bulls on wallstreet and the lost sheep in the alley
Peace on the painted desert down the Mississippi river
Peace on the takers and peace to all the givers
Peace in the blessing and the curse
Oh let there be peace on earth
Oh let there be peace on earth
Peace on the lovers peace on the leavers
Peace on the doubters and peace on the true believers
The star in the spotlight the addict in the shadows
The divers in the deep end and drowners in the shallows
For all I'm not and for all it's worth
Oh let there be peace on earth
Oh let there be peace on earth
Peace on the poor man peace on the king
The radio flyers and the broken wings
Let there be peace let there be peace on
The babies being born and the roses on the grave
The losers the winners the fearful and the brave
We're all brothers and sisters crying to the Father for
Peace on earth Peace on earth
Oh let there be peace on earth
Oh let there be peace on earth
And let it start with me
Oh let it start with me
Video
Steven Curtis Chapman - (Peace on Earth) A Desperate Benediction
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on October 14, 2022, as part of his album "Still," Steven Curtis Chapman’s "A Desperate Benediction" emerges not merely as a song, but as a profound, urgent prayer for our fractured world. The title itself, "A Desperate Benediction," immediately conveys a deep yearning for blessing and peace, born from an acute awareness of global turmoil and personal suffering. It’s a sonic echo of the human spirit’s cry for solace and reconciliation, delivered with the seasoned wisdom of an artist who has navigated both life’s profound joys and its deepest valleys. Rather than offering simplistic answers, Chapman presents a comprehensive, all-encompassing plea for the shalom of God to descend upon every conceivable facet of existence, reflecting a perspective refined by years of faith and experience.
The core message of the song is a sweeping, inclusive vision of peace that transcends all human-made divisions and earthly circumstances. Chapman paints a vivid lyrical tapestry, calling for peace on the "mountain" and in the "valley," for the powerful "bulls on wallstreet" and the "lost sheep in the alley." This resonates deeply with the Scriptural truth that God's grace and concern extend to every individual, regardless of their station or struggle. Just as Psalm 23 speaks of walking through the darkest valley without fear because of God's presence, the song asks for peace to permeate all of life’s terrains. The prayer for peace to embrace "takers and givers," "blessing and curse," and even "doubters and true believers," mirrors the expansive nature of divine love described in Matthew 5:45, where Jesus states that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." This isn't a selective peace, but an all-encompassing one, acknowledging the brokenness of humanity while clinging to the hope of God's restorative power.
Chapman’s appeal for peace meticulously covers the vast spectrum of human experience, from the "star in the spotlight" to the "addict in the shadows," from "divers in the deep end" to "drowners in the shallows." This comprehensive approach underscores the biblical principle that all people, regardless of their perceived success or failure, their prominence or obscurity, are equally in need of God’s peace. The apostle Paul eloquently captured this universality in Galatians 3:28, declaring that "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." The song champions a divine equality, where the "poor man" and the "king" stand shoulder to shoulder in their shared need for divine intervention. It covers the joy of "babies being born" and the sorrow reflected in "roses on the grave," reminding us that God’s peace is meant to be present through every season of life and death, just as Ecclesiastes 3 speaks of a time for everything under heaven. This isn't merely a request for the absence of conflict, but for the profound spiritual tranquility and wholeness that only God can provide, a peace that, as Philippians 4:7 describes, "surpasses all understanding."
Perhaps the most poignant and transformative aspect of "A Desperate Benediction" arrives in its final declaration. After a sprawling, global supplication, the song narrows its focus to the individual, culminating in the powerful and challenging line: "And let it start with me." This shift is not a retraction of the global plea, but an acknowledgment that true, lasting peace must begin within each person. It’s a call to personal accountability and active participation in the work of reconciliation, echoing Romans 12:18, which urges us, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all." This humble yet resolute commitment transforms the song from a lament into a living prayer, inviting each person to become an agent of the peace they so desperately seek for the world. It’s a reminder that we are all "brothers and sisters crying to the Father," united in our brokenness and our hope, and that the path to global harmony is paved one transformed heart at a time, making this benediction a truly inspiring and deeply spiritual anthem for our times.