Last week at Bethany, Pastor Kurt introduced a new old song to the congregation. During the "pre-worship" time, we sang "Come, All Ye Pining, Hungry Poor." Tomorrow we will incorporate this beautiful hymn into our worship time.
You might go here and play Red Mountain Music singing this classic as you consider the lyrics below.
1 Lord, we adore thy boundless grace,
The heights and depths unknown,
Of pardon, life, and joy, and peace,
In thy beloved Son.
Chorus: Come, all ye pining, hungry poor,
The Saviour’s bounty taste;
Behold a never-failing store
For every willing guest.
2 O wondrous gifts of love divine,
Dear Source of every good;
Jesus, in thee what glories shine!
How rich thy flowing blood!
3 Here shall your numerous wants receive
A free, a full supply;
He has unmeasured bliss to give,
And joys that never die.
I like to note the subject or subjects, in a song. In the first verse the singer is addressing God the Father. Praising Him for his loving nature, His unique quality of infinite scope, and then lists four of the marvelous particulars He has given us through His Son.
The chorus is directed to the lost. It seems to be particularly aimed at the "pining, hungry" lost, making a distinction between these seekers and those who are otherwise content with their spiritual status quo. But I suspect that the writer allows for no such separation. At least I would not. Hopefully, I am agreeing with God when I would assert that all unbelievers--all who have not yet received Christ as their Savior--are in fact "pining" and "hungry." Many either do not recognize their ongoing quests in life as a "pining" for that which only God can supply, or they do not admit they have exhausted all hope of finding satisfaction elsewhere.
Verse 2 is addressed to Jesus and all that flows with His presence. Innumerable and amazing aspects of His love. all things "good", indescribable "glories" (meaning: importance, power and relevance), and the verse ends with reference to the very point and focus of His coming: To shed the saving blood of the Lamb of God for the covering of our sin.
The chorus again reflects the desire of those saved to share what they have found. "We too, were poor and pining. We have discovered a bountiful supply of all we truly need. We want you to know you are also invited in!
The third verse is addressed directly to the hungry, with the continuing empathy of those already fulfilled. In prose, it might read more like this: "Beyond saving your soul from hell, Christ will meet all your needs and provide everything your heart really wants. There is no limit to His generosity or his provision. The happiness you will find in Christ is both abounding, and eternally enduring!"
As the chorus is repeated, I think the focus is on the most delicate challenge one can offer. There is no evangelistic "shoving down the throat" but only a holding out of an open hand; a beckoning "to taste," and the invitation to be "a willing guest."
