The River Is Here – Andy Park

In 1994 Andy Park received a song idea from someone, although he didn’t know that’s what it was at first. By this time, he had already been involved with music projects in churches for several years in California and in British Columbia in Canada, so he was familiar with song development, composition, and production. Yet, the song “The River Is Here” came to him in a way that caught him off guard. Here’s what he says, in his own words:

‘This song began when I received a picture in my mind's eye of a mountain with a river running down it. I prayed about it, not realizing that it was a word from God to prompt a new song. I did a word study in the Bible for "mountain" and "river" and found imagery in Ezekiel, the Psalms and the book of Revelation which provided the basis for the song. While on a brief personal retreat I wrote the song.’

Andy Park no doubt discovered in his word search that ‘mountain’ and ‘river’ are really important to the Creator, our Holy One. Words like ‘holy’, ‘majestic’, and ‘glory’ describe the mountain of God, and yet He doesn’t stand far up there just to be aloof. No, He sends something from up above that I need. The river, His creation, that ancient songwriters and prophets describe, provides delight, nourishment, and life. This river emanates from the mountain where He lives -- where we’re going. Maybe it looks a little like one you’ve seen here on Earth (like the Yukon, see the picture). Even though the mountain may make me tremble, I can know that His presence will be enchanting, too.

That’s what “The River Is Here” communicates. Listen to the joy this mental imagery provokes. It’s infectious. God is love. He is generous (what an understatement!). And, His gift won’t wear out, but only grows more precious the closer we come to it, and the more people with whom we share this message. The next time you’re in a crowd that doesn’t know the song, teach it to them, and usher in some Eternity. The New Earth awaits, where all will be renewed, His word teaches. Words from Psalmists, Ezekiel, and John (Revelation), repeated by Andy Park, are a great place to begin the celebration.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:10)

See the following for some background: http://andypark.ca/index.php?fuseaction=site.home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Park_(musician)

Here’s a good U-Tube video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcxdSaxVP_E

Andy Park shared this brief song story above with me in an e:mail on 1/12/2011.

Another source for Andy Park’s song story is the book “Celebrate Jesus: The Stories behind Your Favorite Praise and Worship Songs”, by Phil Christensen and Shari MacDonald, Kregel Publications, 2003.