Lyrics
Verse 1
The devil thought he had me
but Jesus had my soul
He’s the one who has control
Sends down an army to stand by my side
He lights up the path
and he shows right from wrong
And he guides me all along
He is the way, he’s the truth, he’s the life
Pre-Chorus
When I’m walking through darkness
I know in my heart that
Chorus
God is the name that I know
The Lord is my shepherd yeah he’s my defender Yahweh
He is great, he is strong, he is mighty
Yeah that’s my God
I can hear him, he’s talking to me
he said praise in the valley
With my hands to the heavens, I will rejoice and I’ll sing
Verse 2
He leads by still-water when life’s like a wave
He’s the one who always saves
Always remember put faith over fear (faith over fear)
Pre-Chorus
When I’m walking through darkness
I know in my heart that
Chorus
God is the name that I know
The Lord is my shepherd yeah he’s my defender Yahweh
He is great, he is strong, he is mighty
Yeah that’s my God
I can hear him, he’s talking to me
he said praise in the valley
With my hands to the heavens, I will rejoice and I’ll sing
Bridge
Glory, Glory on high you are
Worthy, now and all time you are
Holy, God now and forever
Glory, Glory on high you are
Worthy, now and all time you are
Holy, God now and forever
Chorus
The Lord is my shepherd yeah he’s my defender Yahweh
He is great, he is strong, he is mighty
Yeah that’s my God (my God)
I can hear him, he’s talking to me
he said praise in the valley
With my hands to the heavens, I will rejoice and I’ll sing
Outro
My defender, my defender
Yahweh
My defender, my defender
Yahweh
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“My Defender” by Tate Butts is a contemporary Christian song that borrows the language of Psalm 23 and sets it to a rap-influenced delivery. It opens with the claim that the devil thought he had the singer, but Jesus had the soul. The verse then describes God sending an army to stand alongside, lighting the path, and guiding all along, closing with “He is the way, he’s the truth, he’s the life.”
The chorus is the main statement: “The Lord is my shepherd, yeah he’s my defender, Yahweh.” It follows with praise for God as great, strong, and mighty, and with the line “praise in the valley,” a phrase that echoes walking through darkness with a shepherd in Psalm 23:4. Another line says to put faith over fear.
The bridge shifts into plain adoration, repeating “Glory on high” and calling God worthy and holy, now and forever. The song ends by repeating “My defender” and “Yahweh,” leaving a simple, confident declaration of trust.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 23:1-4 The Lord as shepherd, with God present in the valley
- John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life”
- Psalm 46:1 God as refuge and help in trouble