Amazing Grace

The Sleepy Weasel ● Vol. 12 (2007-2008)


Background

The song “Amazing Grace” was written by a man named John Newton in the 1700s. His song has been sung in various forms ever since, and it is still sung today. The song has been a part of a great tradition in families who sing it together, and also in churches. John Newton had been a slave ship master during his early years, and later received criticism for it. After that, he became an Anglican priest on June 17, 1764. He worked with William Cowper writing hymns, and they ended up publishing a book of hymns entitled Olney Hymns. Newton wrote many hymns, including “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken”, “ How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!”, “Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare”, “Approach, My Soul, the Mercy-seat” and, of course, “Amazing Grace”.

In 1750, Newton settled down and married Mary Catlett. She died several years later, in 1790, and Newton died Dec. 21, 1807. He is buried next to Mary in St. Mary Woolnoth cemetery. Although John Newton died many years ago, his song still lives on today. It is still as powerful as when he wrote it.
Analysis

John Newton’s song begins:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

That was his first verse to his song, and it says so much about human beings. “I once was lost but now I am found” -- that is very true. Everyone has lost sight of the end goal and gone the wrong way instead of the right way. Newton was referring to God’s way as the right way. He was saying how we as humans follow our own instincts instead of trusting God’s grace. That was how we got lost. When we find God’s amazing grace, we will be found. God will show himself to us and let us see. We will no longer be “blinded,” but we will see the world in a different perspective. When Newton states, “that saved a wretch like me,” it refers to someone who is low, or evil. He is saying that God will save a person no matter what they have done in their past, as long as they find His grace.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.” How true is that. Newton was trying to describe how wonderful it is to have found God’s grace and how it feels to be without it. Newton’s third verse says

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.

It appeals to those who have encountered trouble and were ready to give up. It gives them hope and comfort knowing that God’s grace is with them and will continue to be with them. In the movie, the inmates chose this verse as their favorite just because it was the most similar to their lives. They had encountered trouble and luckily found this song, and the powerful lyrics saved them and now they have God’s grace. When the song says “Grace will lead me home,” it is not referring to your home here on Earth, it is referring to your eternal home. Newton was saying that Grace will save you eternally.