Buddy Greene - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Lyrics
Lyrics
Come, Thou Fount of every 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.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I've come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I′m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
Video
Bill & Gloria Gaither - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing [Live] ft. Buddy Greene, Jeff Taylor
Meaning & Inspiration
Buddy Greene's rendition of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," released on August 13, 2012, breathes new life into one of Christianity’s most cherished hymns. Originating from the pen of Robert Robinson in 1758, this hymn carries a profound theological narrative that resonates through generations, speaking to the core human experience of grace, redemption, and the constant battle against a wandering heart. Greene's interpretation, while presenting the timeless lyrics, powerfully underscores the hymn's enduring message, offering a deeply reflective journey into the believer's relationship with a merciful God.
The song begins with an earnest prayer for divine inspiration: "Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace." This opening immediately establishes God as the singular source of all goodness, a truth echoed in James 1:17, which reminds us that "Every good andament gift is from above." The petition to "tune my heart" signifies a desire for inner alignment, a longing for one's affections and will to be wholly dedicated to God's praise, much like the transformed mind urged in Romans 12:2. The subsequent lines, "Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise," articulate an overwhelming awareness of God's unending grace, a river of divine compassion that perpetually flows, inspiring an unreserved response of worship. The imagery of being "fixed" upon the "Mount of Thy redeeming love" then roots the singer's praise in the unshakeable foundation of Christ's sacrifice, reminiscent of God's steadfast love demonstrated at the cross (Romans 5:8).
The second stanza introduces one of the hymn's most iconic and biblically rich phrases: "Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here by Thy great help I've come." This directly references 1 Samuel 7:12, where Samuel erected a stone to commemorate God's miraculous intervention, proclaiming, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." It serves as a powerful declaration of God's faithfulness in past trials and a beacon of hope for future guidance. By invoking this ancient marker, the song acknowledges a journey of faith sustained by divine assistance, a journey that ultimately yearns for "home," symbolizing the eternal dwelling promised to believers in John 14:2-3. This longing for a safe arrival in God's presence underscores the hope that anchors the soul, as described in Philippians 3:20, where our citizenship is declared to be in heaven.
The narrative then shifts to a powerful testimony of personal salvation: "Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood." These lines vividly portray humanity's lost state, alienated from God, and Christ's active pursuit of the lost, a theme beautifully illustrated in the parables of Luke 15. The profound act of intervention, where Jesus "interposed His precious blood," speaks to the sacrificial atonement on Calvary, an act of selfless love that ransoms souls from spiritual peril (1 Peter 1:18-19). This realization of immense grace evokes a deep sense of gratitude, leading to the profound declaration: "O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be!" This phrase captures the ongoing nature of God's undeserved favor and the believer's perpetual indebtedness, a truth that continually humbles and inspires devotion.
Perhaps the most poignant and universally relatable lines in the hymn follow: "Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love." This raw, honest confession articulates the persistent struggle within the human spirit, the inherent inclination towards sin and spiritual straying, a battle recognized in Jeremiah 17:9. The paradox of desiring God's goodness as a "fetter" is profoundly spiritual; it is a plea for divine constraint, not as bondage, but as a safeguard against self-destruction, a loving tether to prevent the heart from drifting away from its true source of joy and peace. The earnest prayer, "Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above," is a desperate cry for God's preserving power, aligning with Ephesians 1:13, where believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing their eternal inheritance. It’s an act of surrender, asking God to secure what is inherently prone to wander, ensuring its ultimate destination.
The final stanza shifts its gaze towards the eschatological hope, articulating an eager anticipation for eternity: "O that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face; Clothed then in blood washed linen How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace." This vision of future glory promises freedom from the burden of sin and a face-to-face encounter with the Divine, as described in Revelation 21:4, where all tears are wiped away. The "blood washed linen" symbolizes the righteousness granted to believers through Christ's sacrifice, preparing them for holy presence, as seen in Revelation 7:14. The hymn culminates in a fervent longing for Christ's return or the moment of passing into His presence: "Come, my Lord, no longer tarry, Take my ransomed soul away; Send thine angels now to carry Me to realms of endless day." This expresses the deep desire of the believer to be united with Christ, embracing the promise of an eternal home and echoing the apostle Paul's yearning to "depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (Philippians 1:23).
Buddy Greene’s handling of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" serves as a profound meditation on the enduring themes of divine grace, human frailty, and the steadfast hope of redemption. The hymn, through Greene's faithful presentation, continues to be a powerful reminder for individuals to acknowledge God's past help, confess their present struggles, and anchor their future hope in the unwavering love of Christ. It’s a testament to the transformative power of God’s mercy and a constant call to align one's wandering heart with the divine Fount of every blessing, fostering encouragement and deepening spiritual reflection for all who encounter its powerful message.