Phil Wickham - Come Thou Fount 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 his name I'm fixed upon it
Name of God's redeeming love
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 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
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above
Video
Phil Wickham - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Official Pseudo Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Phil Wickham’s rendition of "Come Thou Fount," featured on his 2010 album *Singalong*, released on August 31st, is a profound revisiting of a timeless hymn, breathing new life into its deeply scriptural message for a contemporary setting. This isn't just another cover; it's a prayerful excavation of theological truth, presented with Wickham's signature earnestness that allows the profound lyrics to truly resonate. The song immediately establishes God as the "fount of every blessing," a direct echo of James 1:17, which declares every good and perfect gift descends from the Father of lights. This initial declaration sets the stage for a posture of gratitude, recognizing the divine origin of all mercies and graces. The plea to "tune my heart to sing thy grace" reflects a humble acknowledgment that true worship is not merely human effort, but a divinely enabled response, aligning with Psalm 51:15 where the psalmist asks God to open his lips that his mouth may declare praise. The imagery of "streams of mercy never ceasing" beautifully illustrates the unending nature of God's compassion, a truth passionately articulated in Lamentations 3:22-23, affirming that the Lord’s steadfast love never ceases and His mercies are new every morning. This continuous outpouring calls for an equally continuous, exuberant response of "loudest praise," anchoring our worship in the inexhaustible wellspring of His grace and redeeming love, a love epitomized by Christ's sacrifice as described in Ephesians 1:7.
The hymn then transitions into a raw and honest confession, which Wickham delivers with compelling sincerity. The line, "O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!" captures the essence of Romans 3:23-24, acknowledging our universal shortfall from God's glory and our dependence on His unmerited favor for justification. This sense of indebtedness is not a burden but a liberating truth, as it is grace that ultimately binds us. The prayer, "Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee," presents a striking paradox. A fetter, typically a restraint, here symbolizes God's loving goodness as the very means by which a wayward heart is held fast. This powerful imagery speaks to the persistent human struggle with sin, a reality underscored by Jeremiah 17:9, which describes the heart as deceitful above all things. We admit, "Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love," a candid confession of our inherent fallibility and tendency to stray from the path of devotion, mirroring the internal conflict Paul describes in Romans 7. It’s an admission that every believer can relate to, testifying to the constant need for divine intervention in our spiritual walk.
The song culminates in an earnest plea for spiritual security and sanctification: "Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!" This is a deeply biblical petition, echoing the New Testament concept of being "sealed" by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 states that those who believe are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who serves as a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. This sealing is not just a future promise but a present assurance, a mark of God's ownership and preservation. It is a surrender of control, entrusting our fragile, wandering hearts into the sovereign hands of God for safekeeping and ultimate transformation. Wickham's presentation of these ancient words resonates with believers because it articulates a universal human condition and a timeless divine solution. It's a journey from recognizing God's abundant grace, through a humble acknowledgment of personal weakness, to a hopeful, resolute prayer for enduring faithfulness. Through his interpretation, "Come Thou Fount" serves as a powerful reminder that our hope is fixed not on our own strength, but on the unwavering love and sealing power of God, who alone can guide our hearts to His eternal presence.