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John Newton was born into a Christian home, but his godly mother died when he was only seven years old. He joined his father at sea when he was just eleven. His licentious and tumul­tuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy, and captivity by a slave trader in West Africa! He escaped the capture, but then became the captain of a slave ship himself.

 Several factors contributed to Newton’s conversion: a near-drowning experience, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he later married), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis’ “Imitation of Christ”. He gave up the slave trade in 1754; and eventually became an ardent abolitionist in association with William Wilberforce. John Newton came under the influence of George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers (John and Charles Wesley) after the near drowning experience, and began to study for ministry. He later became an ordained minister in the Church of England.

John Newton’s greatest legacy to the Christian church includes his hymns;  as well as his collaboration with William Cowper, in publishing Olney Hymns, to which he contributed 280 hymns! One of those hymns was, “How Sweet The Name of Jesus Sounds”. I reproduce the first three stanzas below.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
and drives away our fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole
and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary, rest.

O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.

This hymn was based on Song of Solomon 1:3,

READ Sons Of Solomon 1:3

“Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out.”(Song of Solomon 1:3 NIV)

After a long tradition of regarding the Church as the Bride and Christ as the Bridegroom in Song of Solomon, John Newton expounded on the theme of the bride adoring her bridegroom’s name. This unwavering focus on Christ also brings to mind Psalm 27:4, which says:

“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life; to Gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV).

Unless you taste this, it is difficult to grasp; because you need to be a child of God to understand. Bible says:

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Do you want to taste this sweetness? Come to Christ today; and help me sing “How Sweet The Name of Jesus Sounds.”

MEMORY VERSE

“Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your Name is like perfume poured out.”(Song of Solomon 1:3)

QUESTIONS

1. Have you been roaming and roving, searching for peace?
2. Why not come to the Prince of Peace? Don’t resist. Come today.

PRAYER TIPS

 Almighty Father, please help us to know You are the source of all that is good, perfect and sweet.

Written by:
BENNY MALM

For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL

CREDITS

HYMNARY.ORG, “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”, “https://hymnary.org/

URGENT CALL

If you don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, you need to do that now!

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page. God bless you.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

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We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission.