1 THE winds were howling o'er the deep,
Each wave a watery hill,
The Saviour wakened from his sleep,
He spake, and all was still.
2 The madman in a tomb had made
His mansion of despair;
Woe to the traveller who strayed
With heedless footsteps there!
3 He met that glance so thrilling sweet.
He heard those accents mild,
And, melting at Messiah's feet,
Wept like a weaned child.
4 O madder than the raving man!
O deafer than the sea!
How long the time since Christ began
To call in vain on me?
5 He called me when my thoughtless prime
Was early ripe to ill;
I passed from folly on to crime,
And yet he called me still.
6 He called me in the time of dread
When death was full in view,
I trembled on my feverish bed,
And rose to sin anew.
7 Yet could I hear him once again,
As I have heard of old,
Methinks he should not call in vain
His wanderer to the fold.
8 O thou that every thought canst know,
And answer every prayer;
O give me sickness, want, or woe,
But snatch me from despair!
9 My struggling will by grace control,
Renew my broken vow!
That blessed light breaks on my soul?
O God! I hear thee now.
The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep Video
The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep: A Song of Redemption
The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley, a prolific English hymn writer, and poet. The song is a reflection of Wesley's personal journey of redemption, and it speaks to the transformative power of Christ's love and grace.
Meaning of the Song
The first verse of the song sets the scene by describing the chaotic and tumultuous nature of the sea. The winds were howling, and the waves were like hills, creating a sense of fear and uncertainty. However, in the midst of this chaos, the Saviour wakes up from his sleep and speaks, bringing calm to the storm. This verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a reflection on the power of Christ's love to bring peace and stillness to our lives.
The second verse introduces the character of a madman who has made his home in a tomb, a symbol of death and despair. The madman represents all of us who have found ourselves trapped in sin and hopelessness. The third verse describes the encounter between the madman and the Saviour. The madman is moved by Christ's love and mercy and falls at his feet weeping, like a child who has been comforted. This verse is a powerful reminder that no matter how far we have strayed from God, we can always find redemption in his love.
The fourth verse is a reflection on the speaker's own journey of redemption. The speaker acknowledges that they have been deaf to Christ's call in the past and have sinned repeatedly. However, even in the midst of their sin, Christ continued to call them back to himself. This verse is a reminder that no matter how many times we have fallen, God's love is always there to lift us up.
The fifth and sixth verses continue the theme of God's persistent love and grace. The speaker acknowledges that Christ has called them even in the darkest moments of their life, including when they were facing death. However, despite these moments of clarity, the speaker admits that they have still sinned and fallen away from God.
The seventh verse expresses the speaker's desire to hear Christ's call once again. Despite their past failures, they long to be reunited with God and to experience the peace and joy that comes from being in his presence. This verse is a reminder that no matter how far we have strayed from God, we can always turn back to him and find redemption.
The eighth verse is a plea to God to control the speaker's will and renew their commitment to him. The speaker acknowledges that they have broken their vows in the past, but they long to be restored and to experience the light of God's love once again.
The final verse expresses the speaker's joy and gratitude for having heard God's call once again. They acknowledge that God's love and grace have transformed their life and brought them back into his fold. This verse is a powerful reminder that no matter how lost we may feel, God's love is always there to guide us back to him.
Inspiration and Story Behind the Song
The inspiration for The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep is believed to have come from a personal experience that Charles Wesley had while on a ship journeying to America. According to some accounts, the ship encountered a fierce storm, and Wesley was terrified for his life. However, during the storm, he had a profound spiritual experience in which he felt the presence of God and was filled with a sense of peace. This experience inspired him to write the lyrics to the song, which speak to the transformative power of Christ's love to bring calm to our lives even in the midst of chaos.
Bible Verses References
The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep is rooted in the biblical narrative of Jesus calming the storm. In Mark 4:35-41, we read the story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee when a fierce storm arises. The disciples are terrified, but Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves, bringing calm to the sea. The story is a powerful reminder of Christ's power and authority over the natural world and his ability to bring peace and stillness to our lives.
The song also speaks to the biblical theme of redemption and God's persistent love and grace. In Psalm 103:8-12, we read that "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." This passage speaks to the transformative power of God's love to forgive our sins and to heal our brokenness.
Practical Application to Christian Living
The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep is a powerful reminder that no matter how lost we may feel, God's love and grace are always there to guide us back to him. The song speaks to the transformative power of Christ's love to bring calm to our lives even in the midst of chaos. As Christians, we can take comfort in the knowledge that no matter how far we have strayed from God, we can always turn back to him and find redemption.
The song also speaks to the theme of persistence in prayer and faith. The speaker in the song acknowledges that they have ignored Christ's call in the past, but Christ has continued to call them back to him. This is a powerful reminder that even when we feel distant from God, he is always reaching out to us, calling us back to him. As Christians, we can take comfort in the knowledge that God's love and grace are always present in our lives, even when we don't feel them.
In conclusion, The Winds Were Howling O'er The Deep is a powerful Christian hymn that speaks to the transformative power of Christ's love and grace to bring calm to our lives even in the midst of chaos. The song is a reminder that no matter how far we have strayed from God, his love is always there to guide us back to him. As Christians, we can take comfort in the knowledge that God's love and grace are always present in our lives, even when we don't feel them.
