Tune My Heart to Sing Thy Grace…"
The second line of the first verse is known by many and yet, I wonder how often we have stopped to think about what we are asking as we sing this hymn…
What does it mean to "tune my heart" and why would I pray for the "Fountain of every blessing" to do that to me? Although I'm no authority on the background and meaning of this hymn I do have a few ideas about what might be meant by this phrase and how it can be helpful for us as fellow delight-ers in God to consider this imagery more closely.
What does it mean to "tune my heart" and why would I pray for the "Fountain of every blessing" to do that to me? Although I'm no authority on the background and meaning of this hymn I do have a few ideas about what might be meant by this phrase and how it can be helpful for us as fellow delight-ers in God to consider this imagery more closely.
When you tune an instrument you adjust it's strings, air tubes, drum heads, or whatever aspect of it varies the sound in order for it to play the right notes. This allows the instrument to vibrate (create sound waves) which correspond to the absolute frequencies we call music notes/tones.
If we think of our hearts like musical instruments which can be strummed we can understand Robinson's analogy of tuning our hearts. Because of sin our hearts don't always resonate and vibrate to the frequency they should. When we hear about the love of Jesus on our behalf we don't always feel very thankful, but that's not because it isn't worth being thankful for, it's because our hearts are out of tune. When we hear about our own sin we often are not broken-hearted or feel the weight of it's offense against the Almighty of Heaven and Earth.
However, when we sing this hymn we're asking God (the "Fount of every blessing") to make our hearts produce emotions corresponding to the truth of his grace; especially to make us joyful enough to sing about it.
To me the analogy of "tuning my heart" has been very helpful in my life as a redeemed child of God as I make it my practice to meditate on the glories of God in his thoughts, actions, and affections. I have found that the more I fill my mind with the truth of God found especially in His Word the more I am affected most deeply by conversations, songs, and sermons about such things. Sometimes one need only mention the name of Jesus and my heart resonates with gratitude and love. I believe this is an instance of my heart being "in tune."
If we think of our hearts like musical instruments which can be strummed we can understand Robinson's analogy of tuning our hearts. Because of sin our hearts don't always resonate and vibrate to the frequency they should. When we hear about the love of Jesus on our behalf we don't always feel very thankful, but that's not because it isn't worth being thankful for, it's because our hearts are out of tune. When we hear about our own sin we often are not broken-hearted or feel the weight of it's offense against the Almighty of Heaven and Earth.
However, when we sing this hymn we're asking God (the "Fount of every blessing") to make our hearts produce emotions corresponding to the truth of his grace; especially to make us joyful enough to sing about it.
To me the analogy of "tuning my heart" has been very helpful in my life as a redeemed child of God as I make it my practice to meditate on the glories of God in his thoughts, actions, and affections. I have found that the more I fill my mind with the truth of God found especially in His Word the more I am affected most deeply by conversations, songs, and sermons about such things. Sometimes one need only mention the name of Jesus and my heart resonates with gratitude and love. I believe this is an instance of my heart being "in tune."
I find that as I seek to bring my affections into accord with the glorious reality of who God is and what He has done—whether it is to weep at sin or delight in the beauty of God and revel in His love and grace!—the more my heart naturally goes there. We don't often think of emotions becoming habits but I think there is a way in which as we intentionally train our emotions along certain paths we shall find ourselves increasingly touched deeply by the things of God as we should be.
If God is as great as Scripture says He is, and His grace is as amazing as Scripture says it is, we should be "rejoicing always" we should be "singing new songs to the Lord" and be so overcome with joy that we're not content until all creation is praising the Lord with us!
When our hearts are out of tune we will not sing for joy at the marvelous grace of God we will simply shrug our shoulders and turn away. "Oh, Jesus died for me, that's interesting. How fascinating that God would become a man. Totally enthused over here. Just can't. help. being. excited." (*imagine in deadpan voice*)
When we are born again we have a new set of passions. New things make us most sad and new things fill us with the most joy and excitement. Maybe it used to be drugs, alcohol, or sex. Maybe it was video games. Maybe it was our favorite hobby, book, food, or game.
Now it's Jesus! (Nothing else can compare!)
This is the "Fount of blessings" "tun[ing] [our] heart to sing [his] grace." And as with the other aspects of our becoming holy (sanctification) it is something we actively participate in. The work God is doing in our lives to transform our emotions as well as actions and thoughts is something we work for—"though it was not [us], but the grace of God that is with [us]," as Paul says (1 Cor 15:10).
We must meditate on God's glorious actions and attributes until our hearts are tuned to break us out into songs of joy, it is the only way we will inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Having our hearts tuned to sing of God's grace is not just an optional add-on to Christianity, it is actually essential.
Montgomery Paul Webb sums up Jonathan Edwards' thoughts this way:
"The Bible associates sin with hardness of heart, not being moved by emotion, Romans 2:15; Ezekiel 3:7; Psalm 95:7,8; Acts 19:9; Hebrews 3:8,12. Being delivered from the power of sin takes away a heart of stone, Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26. However, being more emotional does not make a person more spiritual. Spirituality should not be judged by the nature of temporary emotion but by the strength of emotional habit. Actually, our passions may not have outward expression, depending on how busy our life might be, but they are necessary to a healthy spiritual life, and proper intellectual understanding should produce emotion. Having too little emotion is error, just as having too much.
Being prejudiced against religious emotion leads to a hard heart, lifeless formality, and a denial of the power of God. Being merely emotional, without transformation of the soul, leads to an addiction to excitement. Our emotions should help us to grow in our spiritual relationship to God. Usually, our emotions are mostly involved in worldly matters. Yet, nothing is more exciting, lovable, or desirable than our spiritual life. Jesus Christ is worthy of our emotion."
Being prejudiced against religious emotion leads to a hard heart, lifeless formality, and a denial of the power of God. Being merely emotional, without transformation of the soul, leads to an addiction to excitement. Our emotions should help us to grow in our spiritual relationship to God. Usually, our emotions are mostly involved in worldly matters. Yet, nothing is more exciting, lovable, or desirable than our spiritual life. Jesus Christ is worthy of our emotion."
So let us pray that the "Fountain of blessings" would "tune our hearts to sing His grace" so that we may forever enjoy that which is most worthy of enjoyment instead of trying to find satisfaction in things which cannot ultimately satisfy—our ultimate joy, or conversely sadness, depends on it!
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