The Importance of Hymns

Scripture: Psalms 101:1 (NKJV) I will sing of mercy and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
Hymns are spiritual songs. A hymn is a lyric poem, reverently and devotionally conceived, which is designed to be sung and expresses the worshipper’s attitude toward God or God’s purposes in human life.

Hymns are usually simple, genuinely emotional, poetic and literary in style, spiritual in quality, and its purpose is not only to worship the Lord but to unify the congregation while singing. In many churches, hymns are a thing of the past. They have been replaced with more upbeat and/or contemporary songs. However, the forgotten hymns are a loss art that should never be removed from worship.

Let’s take a journey.

The year is 1772. The writer is slave trader, John Newton. Newton, who was somewhat of a rebel had a troubled childhood. His mother died when he was six, and during his life he often fought against authority. In his 20’s, he tried to desert the Royal Navy and was abandoned by his crew in West Africa. Once abandoned he was forced to be the servant of a slave trader. He was eventually rescued, but on the voyage back to England, a violent storm hit. The ship almost sank and this started Mr. Newton’s spiritual conversion. He prayed that God save him and the crew from the storm. When Newton got back to England, he became a slave trader, the profession he was accustomed to. He brought slaves from Africa to England and often mistreated them. He was a cruel man. In 1754, he became violently ill on a voyage and decided to give up his life as a seamen and slave trader. He decided to completely devote his life to God’s service. In 1764, Newton was ordained as an Anglican priest and became a popular preacher and hymn writer. He wrote about 280 hymns. Years later, Newton fought to get the African slave trade abolished. He described the horrors of the slave trade in a tract he wrote. John Newton, lived to see the British abolish the slave trade and pass the Slave Trade Act of 1807. (ocp.org)

Dick Gregory, American Comedian and civil rights activist once spoke about his distain for Christianity and he used John Newton’s past as an example. He said, that Black people were stupid for singing Amazing Grace, a song penned by a mean and cruel slave trader. He went on to say that Newton couldn’t understand anything about grace, but Newton absolutely did understand. When a person knows the past of Newton, knows that grace is the unmerited favor of God, and that person has a relationship with God; that person will absolutely understand why Newton wrote the hymn. The words of this hymn describe not only the unmerited favor and love of God but also God’s protection despite our actions.

Newton wrote:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now am found;
Twas blind but now I see

Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
That hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares;
We have already come
Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home.

Amazing grace, How Sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost but now am found
Twas blind but now I see
Was blind, but now I see.

Every believer, at some time in his/her walk, will experience not just God’s grace but God’s Amazing grace. Every believer, at some time in his/her walk, will understand without a shadow of a doubt that it wasn’t just God’s grace that saved them but it was His Amazing grace. Every Believer, at some time in his/her walk, has been greatly surprised, filled with astonishment, or startlingly impressed by God’s grace toward them. This astonishment, this great surprise, this bewilderment of why God would love them despite who they are is an example of God’s AMAZING grace. John Newton’s past, was just the road he had to travel to fully understand what was done for him by a God he had been crying out to for years. John Newton’s experiences set the stage for his God experience. David wrote psalms praising God for His goodness despite his situation (Psalms 34 & Psalms 142). How many times has God’s amazing grace blown your mind? How many times has God’s amazing grace met you where you were and protected and loved you anyway? How many times have you thought, just as Newton thought, Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Amazing Grace. Thank you for favor that we don’t deserve. Lord, forgive us for the sins we have committed. Your Word says, the wages of sin is death yet You saw fit to save us. Forgive us Lord for grieving You, for disappointing You. Thank you for forgiving us. Thank you for Your patience with us. Your love for us despite our continued failures is astounding. Your faithfulness toward us is endless and we thank you. Lord, continue to show us the importance of having a relationship with you instead of just going through the motions because that relationship helps us to understand Your boundless love. Thank you, for loving us so much that You gave us Your only begotten Son. If we had one thousand tongues, we could not thank you enough for Your Amazing Grace. Lord, continue to lead us and guide and we will remember to give You all the praise and all the glory. In the name, of Jesus we pray. Amen

(by Patricia Towns)