1 BEGIN, my soul, some heavenly theme;
Awake, my voice, and sing
The mighty works, or mightier name,
Of our eternal King.
2 Tell of his wondrous faithfulness,
And sound his power abroad;
Sing the sweet promise of his grace,
And the performing God.
3 Proclaim salvation from the Lord,
For wretched, dying men:
His hand hath writ the sacred word
With an immortal pen.
4 Engraved as in eternal brass,
The mighty promise shines;
Nor can the powers of darkness rase
Those everlasting lines.
5 His every word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies;
The voice that rolls the stars along
Speaks all the promises.
6 Now shall my fainting heart rejoice
To know thy favour sure:
I trust the all-creating voice,
And faith desires no more.
Begin, My Soul, Some Heavenly Theme
Begin, My Soul, Some Heavenly Theme Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
"Begin, My Soul, Some Heavenly Theme" is a timeless hymn penned by Charles Wesley, one of history's most prolific and influential hymn writers. Born in 1707, Wesley composed thousands of hymns that have profoundly shaped Christian worship for centuries. This particular hymn, with its evocative language and deep theological grounding, continues to resonate with believers. While the hymn itself dates back to the 18th century, the mention of a 2010 release date typically refers to a specific recording or performance of the hymn being published or made available digitally at that time, illustrating its ongoing relevance through new musical interpretations.
The hymn opens with a direct command to the speaker's own soul and voice, urging them to engage in a "heavenly theme"—the praise of God. It immediately sets the stage for a song focused entirely on the divine. The first stanza calls for singing of God's "mighty works" and, even more significantly, His "mightier name," acknowledging that God's very essence and character are more powerful than any individual deed, identifying Him as the "eternal King." This opening serves as an invocation for the act of worship itself, compelling the inner being and outward expression to focus on God's greatness, echoing the Psalmist's calls to his own soul to bless the Lord (e.g., Psalm 103:1).
Moving through the stanzas, Wesley elaborates on the specific aspects of God worthy of praise. The second stanza highlights God's "wondrous faithfulness" and "power," calling for them to be proclaimed abroad. It beautifully links the "sweet promise of his grace" with the concept of God being the "performing God," emphasizing that His grace is not merely declared but actively brought to fruition in the lives of believers. This speaks to the reliability of God's character and His commitment to His covenant. The hymn then points towards salvation, describing it as a gift from the Lord for fallen humanity. Stanza three emphasizes that the message of salvation is found in the "sacred word," written by God's own hand, an "immortal pen," underscoring the divine origin and enduring truth of Scripture.
The reliability and permanence of God's promises become a central theme in the subsequent stanzas. Stanza four describes God's "mighty promise" as being "Engraved as in eternal brass," shining brightly and impervious to destruction. It asserts that "the powers of darkness" are utterly incapable of erasing these "everlasting lines," providing immense assurance in the face of spiritual opposition. This imagery powerfully conveys the unchanging and unassailable nature of God's word, similar to the biblical affirmation that heaven and earth will pass away, but God's words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). Stanza five elevates the power of God's promises by comparing them to the creative power that brought the universe into existence. "His every word of grace is strong / As that which built the skies," declaring that the same divine "voice that rolls the stars along" is the very voice that speaks every promise to humanity. This connects the reliability of God's word in salvation and grace to His absolute sovereignty and power demonstrated in creation (Genesis 1, Hebrews 11:3).
The final stanza shifts focus to the personal impact of these truths on the believer. Having contemplated God's character, power, and the steadfastness of His promises, the speaker declares, "Now shall my fainting heart rejoice / To know thy favour sure." The knowledge of God's certain favor brings joy and strength to a weary heart. The concluding lines express ultimate trust in the "all-creating voice" and declare that "faith desires no more." This signifies a state of profound contentment and rest found in complete reliance on God's reliable promises, echoing the theme of faith as the ultimate satisfaction and confidence in God's character and word (Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:17). The hymn thus moves from a corporate call to worship to a personal declaration of faith and assurance rooted in the magnificent attributes and unwavering promises of the eternal King.
