Darlene Zschech ‘Here I Am Send Me (Hineni)’

Written by: Laura Chambers (3/2/2017)

There are some words that strike fear into the hearts of man as no other words can. “Gun” and “fire” come to mind; both words, when shouted, have the power to clear a crowded room in a matter of minutes. Yet for all the panic such threats evoke, there’s a different source of fear that’s just as crippling. Cancer. A hulking monster more fearsome than Goliath, threatening to steal all you hold dear. Can anyone blame you for wondering what God was thinking? It’s only natural.

Therein lies the problem. It’s only natural. We are called to trust in a supernatural God who knows exactly what He’s doing and is more than enough to lead us through it. That’s how Darlene Zschech chose to respond to her diagnosis of breast cancer – unrelenting faith clinging to God’s promises. Faith that says, “I will do what You ask – anything at all!” So with that in mind, Zschech brings us Here I Am Send Me (Hineni), a project forged in the valley and tempered by surrender.

“You Are Great” declares the greatness of Jesus, the safety and comfort He supplies when trouble tries to disturb our peace. He has always preserved us from the beginning and will continue to do so until the end. A soaring testimony of fear defied by a holy reverence. It was Zschech’s gut-level response to her circumstances when asked by co-writer Martin Smith, and it should be our first answer as well. “You Will Be Praised” sways slowly back and forth like the embrace of a parent rocking a weary child to sleep. We will give Him praise in the darkness and the light, in pain and delight. Our resolve to glorify Him in everything ought to be as much of a constant as His presence is. Weaving themes from the oft-reference Psalm 23, this song instills hope by choosing it. “Daylight” takes shelter in the promises of God, comparing Him to the sunrise breaking through storm clouds to wake our souls. He hears our calls for help even from His throne and runs to our rescue. Co-written and co-led by Beth Gleeson, whose voice meshes beautifully with Zschech’s, pounding the shores of fear’s fortress with faith’s tide. “Kingdom Come” celebrates the presence and glory of God, inviting His presence to consume the room and its inhabitants with healing and mercy. The song invokes the final lines of the Lord’s prayer, seeking the coming of God’s kingdom and the exercising of His will. In this setting, it looks beyond the specter of death to the certain arrival of a glorious King. The bridge turns up the volume of the song’s urgency, and made this the first track  on the album to make my eyes water a little. (Let the heavens shout the wonder of Your coming / All creation groans in longing for the King / Let the thirsty come and drink from Living Water / As Your Kingdom comes arrayed in majesty)

“First Love”, co-led by Luke Taylor, is an energetic celebration of the things God does for the people He loves- knocking down walls, freeing us from sin, dying on a cross. The chorus takes the song in a familiar direction, unable to cease speaking of His love in song. Say what you want about “songs about singing”, but that doesn’t spoil the song for me. The reason for doing so this time becomes clear in the bridge which gives the song its title. Jesus is our first love, our lasting and constant love. “Love And Wonder”, co-written by Zschech’s teenage daughter Zoe, is a calm interlude that divides the album like the space between storm fronts. We need to take a moment to breathe and let His fullness surround us. The beginning of “Your Eyes” almost sounds like it’s coming from a lounge rather than a church, musically speaking. Lyrically, the song asks God to take our attention away from worldly cares and direct it towards Him. He never turns away from us, nor does He look at us with anything but love. The only thing we can give Him is our love and worship. “Emmanuel” presents Jesus as wholly unique and uniquely holy. Just as He carried our sins and gave us grace, so He carries us through our pain. He is powerful enough to empower us and humble enough to identify with us. When we know that He accompanies us, we have no reason to fear, because He will always go with us.

“Beloved (When I Survey)” marries an Isaac Watts hymn to a song of Gethsemane, picturing a loving savior surrendering His will to that of the Father. (Both combined songs are just different ways of evoking the same concepts. ) He has left us an example of submission and attentiveness to God’s leading. Like Him, we must carry our cross, our calling, and abandon what must be cast aside to take up a higher task. The track ends by broadening the picture to include a multitude of voices praising Him,  sounding as though their song is echoing off the walls of some vast cavern. “Here I Am Send Me” invites the Holy Spirit to exhibit power and set our lives aflame. None can fail to see, say, and hear the glory of God. This experience make us invariably want more, makes us willing to go wherever we have to in order to proclaim His glory and share His love, both home and abroad. “Go” concludes Zschech’s project with a pledge to act upon the urge the previous song stirred. Longing to see the promises of Scripture fulfilled in and through our lives, we reject fear and let love flow from Him to others through us. The bridge keeps building in intensity with every four-line segment, setting the stage for the re-emergence of the chorus with even more enthusiasm. It’s the kind of moment that makes you want to punch the air with your fist triumphantly with every repetition.

Every song on this album comes together to testify to the inescapable, irresistible call of Christ in the life of the believer. Whether evidenced by the sacrificial love of the cross, the power of the Spirit rushing through a crowded room, or the sheltering arms of a father, God is worthy of our praises, our abilities, our every breath. Throughout Here I Am Send Me (Hineni), Darlene Zschech maintains a pliant, surrendered heart despite some of the most difficult obstacles you can imagine, multiplying joy in the absence of ease. It can be ours, too, if only we allow God to fill us.

4.2/5