“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”
Ephesians 5:19
There are many old hymns that we may have forgotten. Today’s music seems to call our attention to things other than the great Scriptural truths that can be found in some of those great, old hymns. There is one that I was reminded of the other day. Once I read the words again, many Scriptures came to my heart and mind. It reminded me again of the importance of praising and singing of God’s grace. However, there are many other things that the following song brings to mind. Read the words of the song “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”.
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Author: Robert Robinson (1758)
1. Come, Thou Fount of every blessing;
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love!
2. Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
3. O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Consider just a few of the following verses this song brings to mind:
“1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
“19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).
“Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12).
“4.What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?5.And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Luke 15:4-5).
“9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10. I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14).
Read Romans 7:15-25.
“12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9).
The entire chapter of Isaiah 25 is good to ponder upon. It is a great example for us to remember to offer God praises for what He has done.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments” (Psalm 119:10).
This is just a sampling of the verses that this song brings to mind – and there are many more. The greatest hymns will bring God’s Word to one’s heart and mind. It will help keep those Scriptures and principles they teach to remain in the heart and mind. One of the best ways to remember things – music. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Do you speak to yourself in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs remembering and praising the Lord?