250 Years of Amazing Grace

Marylynn Rouse

It’s not often that a pop song in the charts can claim to have been around for 250 years. John Newton’s hymn Amazing Grace featured in hit parades all over the world in the 1960s and 70s, but was written for New Year’s Day 1773.

Newton was then curate-in-charge at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul in Olney, Buckinghamshire. He took for his text 1 Chronicles 17:16,17.

And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God.

Newton began his sermon by saying ‘The Lord bestows many blessings upon his people, but unless he likewise gives them a thankful heart, they lose much of the comfort they might have in them.’ 

His objective then was to arouse in his listeners ‘a thankful heart’.

Setting the context: David had just settled in Jerusalem and brought back the ark of the covenant. Embarrassed to be living in a palace of cedar while the ark – symbolising the presence of the Lord – was merely in a tent, he wanted to build something more worthy to house it.

The Lord responded by sending David a message that this honour would not be David’s, but ‘assuring him that his son should build the house and that he himself would build David's house and establish his kingdom.’

We see this in verses 4 and 10:

But the Lord sent him a message: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 

The Lord then reminded David how he had started out just as a shepherd boy: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep (v7). Ever since, I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. The Lord had made David a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth (v8).

A reminder of his past, his vastly different present position as King of Israel, and the promise that his son’s throne shall be established for evermore (v14) had a profound effect on David. ‘This filled his heart with praise,’ said Newton. He continued, ‘My text is part of his acknowledgement.’ In other words, he set out to give a straightforward exposition of the Scripture passage, believing as Paul clarified in his letter to Timothy, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

Every New Year’s Day Newton wrote a hymn to summarise his sermon, to be sung immediately after his preaching. As we look through this passage, we can see so many lessons drawn from so many verses repeated in his hymn Amazing Grace. The title of the Hymn is ‘Faith’s review and expectation. This is in effect doing spiritual stocktaking at the turn of the year, taking a review by faith of the past year, and considering our future hopes and expectations.

With verse 7 in mind, Newton urged his congregation to look back on their past, considering the Lord’s ‘providential care preserving us from a thousand seen, millions of unseen dangers, when we knew him not’. As David, so we can conclude Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come. 

Once we were like David following the sheep. We were ‘rebellious, blinded by the god of this world. We had not so much a desire of deliverance.  Instead of desiring the Lord's help, we breathed a spirit of defiance against him.  His mercy came to us not only undeserved but undesired.’ We can truthfully say I once was lost, but now am found,      

Was blind, but now I see.

Many of us can remember ‘the never to be forgotten hour when he enabled us to hope in his mercy’ said Newton. How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed!

The Lord had promised David I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more (v9). As the Lord’s people, this is true for us. Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease; I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.

David was astounded that you have promised this good thing to your servant (v26). So should we be when contemplating that The Lord has promised good to me.

This passage is of course about the coming Messiah, in the flesh born of the house of David as the Lord had promised, whose throne and kingdom would be established for ever (see the 8 verses where this promise of eternity comes!). So when Jesus was about to be born Joseph went from Galilee to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) (Luke 2:4) And so Jesus affirms in Revelation 22:16 I Jesus … am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Newton’s aim was that the congregation should leave marvelling, when they looked back, at how Lord had brought them safely through many dangers toils and snares. This realisation should fill them with ’trust and confidence’ as they faced the year ahead, knowing that the Lord would continue to be their shield and portion. This was certain. As David had prayed, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant ... be established forever, and do as you have spoken, so we could say with assurance His word my hope secures.

What massive cause for thankfulness! ‘O that crown, that kingdom, that eternal weight of glory! We are travelling home to God. We shall soon see Jesus, and never complain of sin, sorrow, temptation or desertion any more.’

For God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine.

See www.johnnewton.org/amazinggrace for more. Information to download is available at www.johnnewton.org/agresources.

Marylynn Rouse

Marylynn Rouse is the Director of The John Newton Project, a registered charity seeking to make available previously unpublished material by John Newton in print and online at www.johnnewton.org. She has given numerous presentations on aspects of Newton’s life and writings at international conferences in the US and UK and in various forms of national and local media. Her publications include an extensively augmented edition of Richard Cecil’s 'Life of John Newton' and transcripts of Newton’s work.