#214: HYMN REVIEW: Amazing Grace

"...Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?" I Chron 17;16

In response to Paul's admonition to the church at Colossae, this month is dedicated to the review of selected hymns in the church library for the purpose of edifying ourselves through their lyrics:

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col 3:16

Today's hymn is Amazing Grace, written by John Newton (1725 - 1807). Amazing Grace is arguably the most famous hymn today. Within the lines of this beautifully written poem is a rich message relevant to Christians of all generations. In order to understand the message of the hymn, the review will be divided into 2 sections; the first will tell the inspiration of the hymn and the second will exegete the verses of the hymn.

1 The story behind the hymn:

The story behind the hymn is essentially the story of the author. John Newton wrote many poems that were reflections of his Christian walk. When he wrote this poem in 1772, he titled it: Faith's Review and Expectation. It was when he looked back at his journey to faith - and there, he stood, amazed by grace. This is his story in the shortest possible words.

John Newton was born in London. He was taught by his mother to read the bible and pray. But, before these routines could get root in his heart, at the age of 6, his mother died. His father, who was a Shipmaster introduced him to the sea world at the age of 11 and John later became a voyager. Just like many young boys in England at the time, he was enrolled into the Royal Navy. On one of his assignments, he abandoned his ship and was punished for this with 96 lashes and sent to work as a slave on the coast of Sierra Leone. He got his freedom and sailed back to England. On this voyage, he encountered the most life-threatening storm he had faced. On the brink of death, he cried to God, whom he had not hallowed, honoured, nor regarded his whole life. His prayer got answered. He would later refer to this moment as "the hour I first believed." When he arrived in England, he became an investor in the slave trade, but after 3 voyages, he felt convicted to abandon the slave trade and speak against it. He joined the clergy in Olney and together with William Cowper wrote a lot of poems (a collection called the Olney Hymns) which are used as sacred hymns today in churches.

It was during his time as clergy and poet that he wrote this poem. He first brought it to public notice on New Year's Day of 1773 after reading I Chron 17:16 to the congregation which he said inspired him to write the hymn as he wondered to himself: "who am I that God would have mercy on me to offer salvation and bring me this far?" and Grace was the end of the argument. In many of his sermons, he continually laid emphasis on his sinfulness and God's salvation - a demonstration of grace. Even on his death bed, one of his last words was, "I am a great sinner and Christ is a great saviour"; or as Paul puts it:

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. I Tim 1:15

He lived to see the abolition of the slave trade (March 1807 - 9 months before he died) championed by a young politician named Wilberforce whom he discipled and encouraged not to leave the paliament, encouraging him as Modecai admonished Esther:

"...and who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

2 The lyrics

Emphasis will be laid on exegeting the first 3 verses

Verse 1

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind, but now I see

Grace! In concluding his reflection on his journey to faith, grace was the catalyst. Amazing grace - the sound of that is sweet. Only by grace could a wretched man as he regarded himself be saved. He sees himself like the lost son in Luke 15. And just as the story goes, how often do we realise the contrast by comparing the days that we were lost to now that we are found; the days that we were blind to now that we see? What was the secret of the conversion of fate? Grace. It is important to note that we translated from the state of being lost by being found - found by grace. We were lost and found (meaning an external entity sought for us and found us), rather than being lost once and getting home (which would sound like being self-righteous). If we understand the wretchedness of the days that we were lost, we realise that we could not have found the way back home; alas, we did not even know the way back home - till grace found us.

Verse 2

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

In this verse, John reflects on that fateful voyage that he cried out to God to save him. From his reflection, he could see grace in every step of the way. He stands amazed by grace as he ponders - "how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed" every step of the way; from the moment he got scared to death. The wonder of this verse is that grace graciously does not keep us in the state of fear after convicting us of our wretchedness, but relieves the fear with redemption and justification. When you recount your salvation experience, do you see your self-determination, or do you see grace?

Verse 3

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come,

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

In this verse, John makes it clear that his journey to salvation did not occur in a day. Yet all through that journey, it was grace. A very important lesson from this verse is that grace is not just necessary for salvation, but the whole journey of daily sanctification by the Holy Spirit of God; and only by grace shall we make it home. 

Verse 4

The LORD has promised good to me

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures

Verse 5

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

Verse 6

When we've been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun

Conclusion

For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Eph 2:8

The strange link between the hymn Amazing Grace and the slave trade abolition alludes to the saving grace that God grants us to be freed from the bondage of sin which is very amazing each time you ponder on it. At the end of every thought of the cross is the amazement at grace.

Shalom