Have you ever been unsure of what you were singing in the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”? If we are honest, all of us have at one point. There are several obscure terms and biblical references used in this hymn which was written in 1758. Let’s address them one by one with the help of merriam-webster.com.
sonnet – a poem made up of 14 lines that rhyme in a fixed pattern
flaming tongues – Acts 2:3 – supernatural phenomena of the Holy Spirit
Ebenezer – 1 Samuel 7:12 – a memorial stone
interposed – to place (someone or something) between two or more things or people
fetter – a chain or shackle for the feet
prone – likely to do, have, or suffer from something
With this new understanding, read through the words of this great hymn and glorify our great God of grace and mercy!
Verse 1
Come Thou fount of ev’ry blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Verse 2
Here I raise mine Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I’m come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wand’ring from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Verse 3
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy grace Lord like a fetter
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart Lord take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
John Wyeth | Robert Robinson
© Words: Public Domain
Music: Public Domain
The line,
“praise the mount I’m fixed upon it mount of thyredeeming love”
Is the one line that leaves a question for me for which I’m not able to get an answer. It seems likely that he is referencing mount Calvary where Christ atoning death provides the ultimate redeeming love and the only deliverance from sin for all, who by faith obtain saving Grace, praise God!. If there is another mount that he is referring to being fixed upon I would like to know which one that would be and why he would be fixed upon it. I apologize in advance if it appears that I have a firm grasp of the obvious but since I can find no commentary on this most important line I would love to hear a scholarly explanation. Thank You so much in advance. God Bless you and keep you as only Christ’s redeeming love can!
Thank you kindly and in advance for your reply so my question.
Art – thanks for visiting our site. I think the line can be taken two ways. First, as you read it, the author looking at Calvary and recognizing the significance of the cross in redemption and God’s love displayed through it. Another view would be comparing God’s love to a mountain (large, immovable, permanent) and how the author keeps his gaze fixed upon God’s unchanging love.