Concordia’s campus is alive with the sound of music—specifically, the newest addition to the Center for Worship Leadership (CWL) Psalm Library, the song “Psalm 139 (That You Won’t Go).”

Directed by Concordia alum Kip Fox ’03, the Psalm Library is a part of the CWL’s Songwriter Initiative, which has the goal of supporting modern songwriters serving within the The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Its mission statement explains its purpose: “The Center for Worship Leadership Psalm Library provides the church with these settings to continue in this tradition of the people of God engaging in and singing the Psalms as a part of their gatherings. Psalm singing connects us to the ancient church, but even more importantly, to Christ.”

Theology Professor, Dr. Mike Middendorf, described its aim as “producing contemporary contextual music—theologically sound—and just making it available for worship leaders and people to listen to based on Scripture.” The Psalm Library currently has eight psalms-turned-songs, with Psalm 139 being the ninth addition. 

Middendorf was additionally involved in the creation of “That You Won’t Go” as a co-writer. “It's kind of a long psalm about God—knowing us always from conception, knowing everything about us, knowing where we are, always present with us,” he said. 

Working with the other two songwriters, Fox and Hope Dunbar, helped find answers within the psalm. “It just started with them approaching me and saying, ‘What are some theologically significant aspects of this psalm that you would highlight?’” said Middendorf. 

Middendorf explained the process, which started back in December of 2024. “[They] said, ‘We'd love to focus on verses one to 12, 17, and 18.’ So that just narrowed it down.” From there, Middendorf described how there was deciding what specific parts of the psalm to focus on, drafting preliminary lyrics, and reviewing demos. “It's a collaborative process, not in person, but basically we do it all online, back and forth. Suggesting lyrics, and then from that, just continue refining it,” he said.

One of the reasons why Middendorf loves Psalm 139 is because “There’s kind of like a tension in this psalm.” He explained how the message it conveys— “God is with me wherever I go,” as he said it —is something most everyone is able to relate to. “He’s present everywhere with you and then He knows everything about you. So again, that's very comforting.”

But the same aspect of the psalm that makes it comforting also creates an adverse effect. “There’s this tension—ambivalence—a bit in this psalm,” Middendorf described. “But I think the song came together beautifully.”

“Psalm 139 (That You Won’t Go),” was composed by Hope Dunbar, Kip Fox, and Dr. Mike Middendorf, and is set to premiere on April 25. It can be pre-saved on various music platforms through the link https://found.ee/Psalm139, and can be found in the Psalm Library playlist in the Center for Worship Leadership’s YouTube channel.

 

Tags: abbeywest, music, Commercial Music, faith

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