Monday, July 28, 2008

HELPLESS, BUT NOT HOPELESS
...a hymn of man's desperation and God's provision

The greatness of God's power in saving sinners can only
be seen against the background of man's desperate condition.
What a glorious doctrine is the new birth to the helpless sinner!
May the Church return to biblical doctrine so that it may evangelize
again to the glory of God.

Here are some rich convicting and comforting words
from the pen of Isaac Watts that I have entitled as HELPLESS.
May the Lord encourage you this day in His gospel of grace.



"But God, being rich in mercy, 
because of the great love with which he loved us, 
even when we were dead in our trespasses, 
made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
-Ephesians 2:4-5

Helpless
by Isaac Watts

How helpless guilty nature lies,

Unconscious of its load!

The heart, unchanged can never rise

To happiness and God.

The will perverse, the passions blind,

In paths of ruin stray;

Reason, debased, can never find

The safe, the narrow way.

Can aught, beneath a power divine,

The stubborn will subdue?

Tis Thine, almighty Saviour, Thine,

To form the heart anew.

O change these wretched hearts of ours, 

And give them life divine!

Then shall our passions and our powers,

Almighty Lord, be Thine!

10 comments:

john said...

Words that powerful make me long for days when poetry and reflection were an intregal part of worship.

donsands said...

Wonderful hymn. Thanks for sharing that. It speaks the truth of how helpless it is for the human heart. And it speaks of the Savior, the hope of glory.

For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.'

Thomas said...

Those words are rich in truth and beauty! Matthew Smith (a singer/songwriter connected with Indelible Grace) recently recorded the words to this hymn on his new album entitled "All I Owe". Check it out to perhaps keep the words fresh in your mind!

http://www.igracemusic.com/store/

Anonymous said...

Beautiful.

Thanks for that.

Deb_B said...

I need that today.

Thanks.

SJ Camp said...

Watts is my favorite Hymn writer. I have thought about putting these words to new music.

I am glad they are a blessing to you all today.

Campi

The Blainemonster said...

Soli Deo Gloria! God's grace . . . is AMAZING!

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I'd not read that before.

Only Look said...

Hope for the sinner in despair.

Amen!

SJ Camp said...

God's grace is amazing! He is beautiful! And we need it everyday for we are all serious sinners.

Blaine, Only Look and Karen
Thank you all for your comments.

Steve
Romans 5:2