HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS IS

          Most folks remember John Newton (1725-1807) as the converted slave trader who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace.  But few know that he also wrote about 280 other hymns, including the one I've chosen for this week.  
          After his conversion, under the influence of George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley, Newton studied for the ministry.  He was ordained in the Church of England and served in Olney from 1764 to 1780 and at St. Mary Woolnoth, in London, from 1780 to 1807.  It is said that at Olney he gave particular attention to ministering to the people in ways that went above and beyond the weekly worship service. He began arranging spiritual gatherings during the week including one on Thursday afternoons for children. There he would explain the Scriptures to them "in their own little way,"  He also had one in the evenings for adults to allow for extemporaneous prayer and teaching. For these meetings Newton began to compose little bits of verse to be sung, probably as a way to summarize and impress the Scripture lessons on the minds and hearts of his congregants. 
          The hymn "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" was published in the book Olney Hymns under the title "The Name of Jesus." It was based on Song of Solomon 1:3: "Your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you."  What can the name of Jesus do for you, and for me?  Look at the second and third verses. It is medicine. It can heal the wounds of sin. It is balm. It can give peace. It is food. It can satisfy the hunger of the soul. It is a soft pillow. It can give rest.  It is a sure and tried foundation, on which we can safely build. It is a protection and refuge against our enemies. It is an inexhaustible bank from which we may freely draw.  The fourth verse tells us that the name Jesus stands for One Who is nearer and dearer than any earthly friend can be. One Who is able and willing to guide us, love us, understand us, and to be our all in all.  How exactly the hymn goes on to describe our feebleness of feeling, the coldness of our heart, and to lament the poorness of our expressions of gratitude to this Blessed Saviour, who has done, and is still doing, so much for us!  
         Remember, Newton's hymn, which breathes such devotion to Christ, was written by one who had wandered far into the wilds of wickedness and vice. If the grace of God could so transform him, can it not do the same for us?  God has set the name of Jesus above all other names. Let us exalt it in our hearts and lives. Thus shall we prove increasingly, with John Newton,"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds". "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" Acts 4:12.

1     How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

  In a believer's ear!

It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,

  And drives away his fear.

  

2    It makes the wounded spirit whole,

  And calms the troubled breast;

'Tis manna to the hungry soul,

  And to the weary rest.

3    Dear Name! the Rock on which we build;

  Our shield and hiding-place;

Our never-failing treasury, filled

  With boundless stores of grace'

  

4    Jesus, our Savior, Shepherd, Friend,

  Our Prophet, Priest, and King;

Our Lord, our Life, our Way, our End,

  Accept the praise we bring.

5    Weak is the effort of our heart,

  And cold our warmest thought;

But when we see Thee as Thou art,
We'll praise Thee as we ought.

6     Till then we would Thy love proclaim

  With every fleeting breath;

And triumph in that blessed Name

  Which quells the pow'r of death.

  

In the Olney collection the hymn contains seven verses. The other verse, not generally quoted, is as follows:

By Thee my prayers acceptance find,

  Although with sin defiled;

Satan accuses me in vain,

  And I am owned a child.

Listen to it here.   JESUS