I just purchased a new CD from the artist Chris Rice entitled Peace like a River. It is a collection of some of his favorite hymns and spirituals. One of my favorite songs on the album is his rendition of “It is Well with My Soul”. This song, birthed out of extreme loss, written in 1873 contains lyrics that still have tremendous impact today.
I think the intent of Rice’s album is to underscore the vocalist and musical composition altogether and concentrate upon the lyrics of the songs. Bringing to the forefront what is actually being communicated within these rich and timeless tunes. Although I do not mean this article to be a review, the CD is a refreshing surprise and well worth picking up.
Within the title track “Peace like a River”, the third verse of the song really grabs my attention. The author begins to write out the lyrics to this stanza and we start to see and hear and experience his thought process in the moment he puts pen to paper. He writes “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin …” For years singing this hymn in the church pew, I missed it. I missed it due either to my immaturity or apathy or perhaps my ADD kicking in. Is it just me or have others missed it as well? If not, then how come no one explained it to me before? Maybe because they missed it too. Missed what? This.
He writes “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin …”
Do you see what happens here? He begins the line that reads “My sin not in part but the whole…” And before he has completed the thought on paper he is so caught up in the absolute rapture of what’s being said and what has been done that he’s overwhelmed with joy. He is taken back by the fact of what he is about to write that he cannot finish the thought with out responding. Responding to the notion of what Jesus Christ has done that he stops what he is writing and places that personal worship thought right into the song itself.
“My sin, Oh the bliss of this glorious thought!” What thought? What glorious thought?
“My sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.”
The glorious thought is that Jesus has taken on the punishment rightly due for my rebellion and paid in full the price for my freedom. That is why I can sing it is well with my soul.
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2 comments:
Hey randy,
This is hymn is one of my all time favorites because of that very verse. I remember well several years back, while I was pastoring in WI, singing this song with the congregation shortly before I was to preach. I was particularly aware of my struggle with sin that week. As we came to that 3rd verse I broke. I was reminded beautifully of the source of my forgiveness, the answer for my guilty consicence, and the source for any confidence to preach. Ever since it is hard for me to get through this hymn without tears of joy.
Thanks for writing on this.
I love you, bro!
Ray and Brian,
thanks for checking out my blog. The story behind the song is just as tremendous as the lyrics. And yes after the loss of his son and business in Chicago, Spafford's four daughters drown at sea. Going to console his grieving wife and upon crossing near the spot were the ship went down he penned this song.
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