A Song That Speaks

  • Scott Tonkinson
  • May 28, 2009

Do you know Robert Robinson?  I would assume that most of you don’t, as he lived in the 1700’s.  But you may know his song, “Come Thou Fount.”  I love this song.  Not because it has a good melody or rhymes properly but because it really speaks to me of the struggles of our daily life and how we are not perfect.  It also points the way in each verse to our one true redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Yes the words may be of a different time but if you break down this song lyrically and really listen to it, the words are nothing short of beautiful theology lesson put to music.  Here’s what I hear when I listen to this song, (I’ll put my words in the parenthesis.)

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, (Oh God who gives me everything, please hear me now)

Tune my heart to sing thy grace; (Show me how to praise Your name in a way that honors You)

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, (Your blessings for me are never ending)

Call for songs of loudest praise. (And I should be shouting “thank you” all day!)

Teach me some melodious sonnet, (Teach me to sing a song of thanks that pleases Your ears)

Sung by flaming tongues above. (Like the angels sing to You in heaven)

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, (Praise you God, my heart is focused on You)

Mount of thy redeeming love. (The One whose love builds me up and keeps me going)

Here I raise mine Ebenezer; (Here I raise my sign for help)

Hither by thy help I'm come; (For I know that You are my only help)

And I hope, by thy good pleasure, (And I hope that You will allow me)

Safely to arrive at home.  (To live here and praise You)

Jesus sought me when a stranger, (Jesus knew I was in need of salvation)

Wandering from the fold of God; (As my life has not been perfect)

He, to rescue me from danger, (And in order to save my soul from hell)

Interposed his precious blood.  (Jesus gave His blood for my sins)

O to grace how great a debtor, (Without Your grace God I can do nothing)

Daily I'm constrained to be!  (May I always remember that You are Lord)

Let thy goodness, like a fetter, (May Your grace like an iron shackle)

Bind my wandering heart to thee. (Bind my heart that wants to roam tightly to Your side)

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, (Lord I know that sometimes I live in sin)

Prone to leave the God I love; (And I know this separates me from You)

Here's my heart, O take and seal it, (Please God take my heart and remind me)

Seal it for thy courts above. (That You will love me forever!)

I wonder what Robert Robinson was thinking when he wrote these lyrics.  How did he know that this is exactly how I feel most days when I come to the Lord in prayer? Talk about a song communicating over hundreds of years.  How many Dave Matthews or Carrie Underwood songs do you think will still be speaking to the masses three hundred years from now?  I don’t know the answer to that question but I am grateful to Mr. Robinson for taking the time to write down and share his feelings as this song has carried me through some valleys in my life.   We are all broken and fall short of God’s glory however like this song says, Jesus gave his life for us and God’s love is always redeeming. 

I hope you have a song that reaches you and reminds you of God’s grace and His immense love for you.  If not, swing by my office and we’ll listen to a few!  Have a blessed week.

Scott Tonkinson

Pastor Scott

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