How Sweet and Aweful is the Place, the first hymn we looked at, is a song that many people probably don’t know (or at least don’t hear very often). So this time we’re turning to a hymn that nearly everyone with a Christian background knows.
Amazing Grace was written by John Newton, a pastor in England who lived during the eighteenth century. Every Sunday, it’s sung in churches all across the world, becoming so familiar that many of us don’t even pay attention to what we’re singing anymore. If you’ve spent any time in “Christian culture”, you can probably recite the lyrics to this song backwards and upside down, but as you read them, try to pretend that you’ve never heard this song before, and pay attention to the message of the words. And as we did with How Sweet and Aweful is the Place, let’s take this post just to get a feel for the words, and begin looking at their meaning next time.
Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound
By John Newton
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
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
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 first begun
SDG<><
This is the sixth installment in the Journey Through the Hymns series. A new installment will be posted each Wednesday until the series’ completion.
Annsley
semperscripto.com 
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