He was in
Olney, England, where he must have spent a good bit of his time in this home
(see its picture here), thinking and writing many hymns in a collaborative
effort with his good friend at the time (latter part of the 18th
Century). And so, John Newton wrote one that he called “Glorious Things of Thee
Are Spoken (also known as “Zion, or the City of God”), which rather stood out from
the others that he wrote and published in the hymnal named after this place
where he served as minister. Its unique character should make the curious ask ‘What
was Newton thinking that was so very different then?’ He was undoubtedly
grateful for Olney, this place where he could minister and live out God’s
purpose for himself, but he must have been pondering a future home too when he
penned the hymn’s words. Let’s see what he imagined as he considered this future
abode.
The
54-year old John Newton was doing what any devoted minister in the Church of
England serving in a post should do when he crafted the words for ‘Glorious
Things…’ and had them published in a hymnal in 1779. The words from Psalm 87 (verse
3) and Isaiah 33 (vv. 20-21) are considered to be the scriptural reference
points for Newton’s thoughts. He must have been wondering what he could expect
when living in God’s city, called Zion in the words he read. And, one can
imagine that he bounced ideas back and forth with his friend William Cowper,
who had joined him at Olney in a friendly partnership that led to the Olney
Hymnal. It was a mutual production by these two writers, yet the Olney Hymnal
had just one selection among the 348 therein that was considered to be joyful: “Glorious
Things…”. Zion has many qualities synonymous with God’s character, including a
rock-solid foundation, according to verse 1. This city of God also quenches the
thirst of its inhabitants with the ‘streams of living water’ (v.2). Newton
turns to the individuals’ homes in verse 3, in which he envisions a ‘cloud’ and
‘fire’, reminders of God’s protection and His glory. Newton sums up the
benefits of Zion residency in verses 4 and 5; citizenship there is unparalleled,
making its people ‘kings’ and ‘priests’ through a ‘Redeemer’s blood’ (v.4), and
awarding all a ‘lasting treasure’ (v.5). No wonder this is a song with a joyful
nature, with all of these impressions flowing from Newton’s mind as he read
scripture! It must have dawned upon Newton, probably not for the first time,
that God wants you and me to be excited about approaching this city.
Is there a
city like Zion in yours and my earthly experience? It’s a rhetorical question,
forcing one to consider otherworldly pictures for proper context. How about Oz,
where Dorothy, Toto, and her three friends seeking relief of one kind or
another arrive via the yellow-brick road? It certainly gleams with a glory appropriate
for a special ruler. But, as we know, this ruler turns out to be a fraud, unmasked
by a little dog. His solutions to problems are also pretty pedestrian, or you
might say terrestrial. You and I ultimately need passage to a place that lifts
us above our current terrain, where tornadoes cannot twist us back and forth. Anybody
been to such a place? Ask John Newton.
See more
information on the song story in these sources: The Complete Book of
Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J.
Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006; Amazing
Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1990; 101 More Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1985; and A Treasury of Hymn Stories – Brief Biographies
of 120 Hymnwriters with Their Best Hymns, by Amos R. Wells, Baker Book House,
1945.
Also see this link, showing all five original verses: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/g/l/o/r/i/glorious.htm
Also see this link for author’s biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Newton
Also see this site for song information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Things_of_Thee_Are_Spoken
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