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Hymnody: A Trail of Faith

by Justin Huffman

Hymns are like small white pebbles.

In the tale of Hansel and Gretel, by the Brothers Grimm, the two young children are purposefully taken deep into the woods by their own father and then left there to die — not just once, but twice. The first attempt is foiled by the cleverness of Hansel and Gretel to take with them white pebbles, which they drop behind them and which lead them back home. The second time, sadly, they don’t have the time to gather pebbles and so instead leave breadcrumbs along the way. The breadcrumbs, though, are eaten by the forest animals and soon disappear, leaving the children lost in the forest.

Hymns are like small white pebbles. They serve as long-lasting reminders of where we have come from and of what our spiritual forefathers have believed, rejoiced in, and preached. So many of the foundational tenets of our faith have been attacked and distorted through the years… but our hymnody often serves as a clear, persistent trail marker, showing the way through the forest of modern innovations and ideologies and bringing us safely home to our biblical foundations.

The Roots of a People

Someone has said that the last thing to change—even in the midst of church upheaval and doctrinal reconstruction—is the hymns of a people. Long after new interpretations have taken root or a different theology has been embraced, the people in the pews are still singing (many times without realizing it) hymns that plainly express the joyful faith of their forefathers.

For this reason, a survey of the rich lyrics and profound doctrinal themes within one’s own songbook is sometimes one of the easiest and fastest ways to get to the roots of a people. Where do they come from? What have they stood for? What are their doctrinal distinctives?

While some of the hymn writers themselves do not in every point agree theologically, it is interesting and revealing to see which particular hymns our forebears chose to include in their hymn books anyway, because they loved the specific lyrics so much (for instance, many Baptists have sung with great enjoyment hymns by Charles Wesley, not because of overall doctrinal agreement with him, but because of specific agreement with particular hymns). These hymns are, as a result, still loved and sung by many of us today.

Salvation by Grace

Have you ever noticed that many Arminian Baptist churches across America today—who long ago changed their articles of faith and rid themselves of their forefathers’ confessions of faith—are still singing that grand old confession of salvation by grace, John Newton’s Amazing Grace? This hymn of course speaks volumes, not only of God’s sovereignty to save — by finding the once-lost and making the blind to see — but also of His divine work of teaching hearts to fear Him and of continuing salvation in this life.

Likewise, the popular hymnwriter William Cowper, Newton’s close friend, wrote many grace-filled hymns, including the well-beloved I Would See Jesus. In this fervent heart-song, Cowper writes (and we sing) of God’s grace to sovereignly redirect our desires toward Christ:

He speaks, obedient to His call

Our warm affections move;

Did He but shine alike on all,

Then all alike would love.

And not only sovereign grace, but even particular redemption is clearly set forth in Ray Palmer’s (1808-1887) precious hymn O Jesus! Sweet the Tears:

I know this cleansing blood of Thine was shed, dear Lord, for me,

For even all oh, grace divine! who look by faith on Thee.

The next time, then, that you are singing a hymn—in church, or in the car, or to yourself—stop, and think about the marvelous and deep and historic doctrines that you are proclaiming! Some other wonderful hymns of God’s sovereign grace, still sung in many churches today, include Robert Robinson’s Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing; Elizabeth Clephane’s The Ninety and Nine; Isaac Watt’s Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed; John R. Daily’s Preservation; Fowler’s Lone Pilgrim; and Luther’s A Mighty Fortress.

Sovereignty of God

Not only is the sovereignty of God in salvation extolled in our old hymns, but also the daily providence of God was a constant theme for these dear saints.

In the midst of unparalleled prosperity and luxury, many of us may have forgotten how precious and comforting the truth of God’s daily sovereignty is.

However, saints of yesteryear made much of this great reality.

Thomas Kelly (1674-1748) wrote Poor and Afflicted and C. H. Cayce helped to arrange the harmony before including it in his own hymn book. Among the many treasured consolations is this reminder:

Poor and afflicted oft they are

So hard oppressed with want and care,

Yet, He who saves them by His blood

Makes ev’ry sorrow yield them good.

Of course, one of the great hymns of the faith is George Keith’s How Firm a Foundation and, while every verse of the song is excellent, none is more precious than this:

When thru the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

In one of the most moving chapters of Wilson Thompson’s autobiography, the 1800s evangelist tells of a period of extreme sorrow and affliction of soul through which he passed, even doubting his own salvation. Yet, the chapter continues with the Lord’s deliverance as hundreds of souls wept and repented under his preaching. He concludes with his own observation (and a hymn) regarding trials:

“Pleasant feelings are very desirable, but they are often of short duration; and their lessons are not so deep and abiding as those we learn by painful trials.

Trials make the promise sweet,

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring us to His feet—

Lay us low, and keep us there.”

For more wonderful meditations upon the daily sovereignty of God, take a close look at these hymns, as well: Cowper’s God Moves In a Mysterious Way; Killinghall’s In Ev’ry Trying Hour; Mrs. Cecil Alexander’s Jesus Calls Us; Newton’s The Lord Will Provide; June Hawks Goins’ Who?

Kingdom-minded Prayers

One more of the many lessons we learn from studying our own hymnody is to burst out of our self-centered shells and to pray fervently for others to come to a knowledge, and enjoyment, of Jesus Christ as Lord. Consider these words from two extremely well-known hymns: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below…” (The Doxology, by Thomas Ken 1637-1711); and “Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe on this terrestrial ball, to Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all” (All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name, by Edward Perronet 1726-1792).

Individually, each of these hymns shines forth the praises of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; as a whole, our rich hymnody yields an explicit trail of historical theology that we are blessed to be able to still follow today. What an avalanche of truth these small pebbles make when we consider them together! May they lead us each day to pray, along with William Mackay,

Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy love;

May each soul be re-kindled with fire from above.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen;

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again.

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