Photo by Andrew Seaman
Former slave trader John Newton is best known for his song Amazing Grace. If you are interested in his background, read the introduction to Amazing Grace.
He wrote other hymns, including Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!, and I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow.
Edward Miller wrote the tune to Newton’s I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow.
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.
1. What message does the song communicate?
This song is a testimony on one of Newton’s discoveries, namely, that personal growth occurs through suffering.
Newton prays for increased trust in God, lovingkindness for others, and undeserved favor granted to both believers and unbelievers. He hopes to receive these without struggling. To his surprise and dismay, God tests Newton, forcing him to confront his sin and experience humiliation. Newton cried out to God, wondering why He answered Newton’s prayer in this manner.
The last verse contains God’s response to Newton. Speaking for God is a very dangerous prospect which ought to handle with care. Old Testament prophets were killed for falsely speaking on God’s behalf. With that in mind, Newton speaks accurately about God’s intent in answering Newton’s prayer. God’s goal is to discipline Newton so that he could bear fruit, using trials to accomplish it.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it lines up with Scripture.
This song is public domain.
[Verse 1]
I asked the Lord that I might grow
in faith and love and ev’ry grace;
Newton prays for excellent things, to grow in:
- faith (Luke 17:5 and Colossians 2:6-7)
- love (Philippians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
- grace (2 Peter 3:18)
might more of his salvation know,
and seek more earnestly his face.
He also prayers for increased intimate knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18) and for heightened desire to seek God’s face (Psalm 24:6, Psalm 27:8, Psalm 105:4, and Hosea 5:15).
[Verse 2]
’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
and he, I trust, has answered pray’r,
but it has been in such a way
as almost drove me to despair.
Newton acknowledges that God taught him to pray, perhaps alluding to Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Scripture is replete with both examples of answered prayer, but, as Newton will soon discover, does not guarantee a green light response. Rather, He promises to hear us (1 John 5:14-15).
[Verse 3]
I hoped that in some favored hour
at once he’d answer my request,
and by his love’s constraining pow’r
subdue my sins and give me rest.
Newton was hoping his prayer for increased faith, love, and grace would come without trials or struggle.
[Verse 4]
Instead of this he made me feel
the hidden evils of my heart,
and let the angry pow’rs of hell
assault my soul in ev’ry part.
Rather than completely remove tribulation, God’s response to Newton is a resounding “no”. Why would God do that? Verse 7 answers this question.
[Verse 5]
Yea more, with his own hand he seemed
intent to aggravate my woe,
crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
humbled my heart, and laid me low.
Newton continues to complain about his trials, humiliated and dejected.
[Verse 6]
“Lord, why is this?” I, trembling, cried;
“Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”
Newton cries out to the Lord, not understanding God’s intent expressed in Verse 5.
[Verse 7]
“These inward trials I employ
from self and pride to set thee free,
and break thy schemes of earthly joy
that thou may’st find thy all in me.”
God’s response to Newton is to discipline him, humbling and pruning him to bear more fruit (John 15:1-11 and Hebrews 12:4-11).
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Despite its archaism style, unbelievers will easily understand this as Newton’s prayer offered to God. The end of Verse 2 will intrigue many to keep listening, especially given the surge of positively answered prayer. Verses 4 and 5 will seem contrary to the loving God that Christians espouse, perhaps causing them to ask the same questions that Newton does in Verse 6. Verse 7 is God’s response, easily comprehensible and may cause those outside the camp of Christ to think differently about why God allows bad things to occur.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God through its wonderful teaching on growth through endurance.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
John Newton’s I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow is a great testimonial teaching on the benefits of suffering: increased faith, love, and grace. Both believers and unbelievers can easily digest this God-glorifying classic.
Though a powerful testimony, this doesn’t seem to be a song that focuses on worshipping God in a corporate setting. Still, I’m sure that creative worship directors could find some use for this archaic tune. Perhaps as an opening song, in the rock and roll style?
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow (listen to Sovereign Grace Music’s version of the song)
Artist: John Newton
Album: N/A
Genre: Hymn
Release Year: 1779
Duration: N/A
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Updates:
03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.
Comments
Pastor Scott Maxwell
It is interesting that in every evaluation of this hymn, not once have I yet to find someone who addressed the phrase, “and let the angry pow’rs of hell assault my soul in ev’ry part.” I find no scripture which supports God’s use of the “powers of Hell” in disciplining or growing His children. The overall theme of the hymn is tremendous, but this one phrase would remove any possibility of its use in any church I would pastor. I am open to correction of the Biblical foundation for this verse as I am clearly not all knowing, so to give people a head start, I will provide some responses to commonly provided scripture. In Second Corinthians 12:7 we here from Paul about the “thorn in His flesh”, “a messenger from Satan”. Some may say that this is the “power of hell” of which Newton speaks, and it very well may be. This interpretation, however is is lacking in many ways, including Paul’s particular contextual situation, that fact that over the years this passage has been understood in many different ways, including spiritual affliction, physical illnesses, human oppression, etc. All of which are possible interpretations from the text, considering that “Satan” is translated from the Greek word for adversary, and thus may very well not be the person of satan. If one goes to Job for support, please understand that in Job, it is “the satan” on “Satan” who goes before the throne of God, indicating a position of adversary or tester, not the person we understand as Satan, The Adversary who opposes God.
In Summary, I believe we are best served to leave behind hymns with highly questionable theologies or phrases, even those written by those we esteem highly like Newton. It is often easy to try to justify something we love, sometimes using less than adequate theology or interpretation of scripture.
Vince Wright
Scott,
Thank you for your challenge!
I suppose I haven’t been a good Berean! I skipped right over that and just assumed that it connected like a plug in its socket.
Outside the Scripture you already addressed, what do you think about 1 Corinthians 5:5 as a possibility? The man who committed indecent acts with his stepmother was handed over to Satan, becomes excommunicated by the church in Corinth, then is later restored to the faith shown by Paul’s command for the Corinthians to grant overwhelming love (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).
-Vince Wright
yve
Thank you for the edited comment on “and let the angry pow’rs of hell assault my soul in ev’ry part.” That makes very much sense to me and helped me a lot. But I have another comment on your last suggestion “Still, I’m sure that creative worship directors could find some use for this archaic tune. Perhaps as an opening song, in the rock and roll style?”
I would like to challenge you to study the origin of rock and roll music (generally music that’s being used in the world) with the question in mind “is it ok for christians to use worldly tunes with christian lyrics?” :o)
Looking forward to reading from you!
in CHRIST,
yve
Vince Wright
yve,
Great question!
We have to be careful not to commit the genetic fallacy, which is to construct an argument/conclusion based solely on origins without regard to modern-day context. With this fallacy in mind, it doesn’t matter to me how rock and roll originated. What matters is what we do with it today.
-Vince Wright
yve
Well, then I can only humbly ask you to ask the LORD what kind of music HE prefers.
I did before I did my research.
Please, with all due respect and without meaning to sound like a know it all, but I wouldn’t even mention the phrase “rock n’ roll” in connection with any song for GOD’S glory, as this phrase is a saying for rolling on the floor in an indecent way 🙁
racefangurl
I once read the term rock and roll came from an old blues song “My Baby Rocks Me With A Steady Roll”.
yve
You might want to read this article. It describes pretty well and in a quick way the development of this term and how it’s being used. And maybe after reading this you might agree that we should rather not use this term in Christian circles, let alone sing songs which ought to glorify our most holy GOD using this kind of music.
https://sparkfiles.net/rock-roll-origins-phrase/
Thank you for looking into this and your time.
In CHRIST,
yve
racefangurl
That song I mentioned IS in there, along with other things, I see. Maybe Vince doesn’t really know about the origins of term.
Vince Wright
racefangirl,
Yes, I’m aware of its 17th-century origins of ship motion, its sexual overtone in the genre’s origins. As for modern-day usage, the last bit of history mentioned in this article was in the 1950s, which was around 7 decades ago. A lot has happened since then.
-Vince Wright
yve
Dear brother, please understand, that I am not committing the “genetic fallacy”. As I am looking at the origin, yes, I am also looking into this how this kind of music has developed and is mostly used in the world and – very important – what it is identified with. Just because I use something for a holy purpose doesn’t mean that it makes the thing itself holy. The opposite should be considered! Namely, that this is exactly that which makes the holy thing offered, unholy.
I hope you understand. May the LORD JESUS bless you and be HIS grace be with you, dear brother!
In CHRIST,
yve
Vince Wright
yve,
I’m happy that you are not drawing your conclusion solely on origins; However, I don’t understand what you are saying. The word “holy” means “set apart”. God is holy because He is set apart from the rest of us. We are commanded to be holy because God is (Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7, Leviticus 20:26, Leviticus 21:8, Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 1:16, and 1 Thessalonians 4:7).
What does the Bible say about rock and roll music?
1) Nowhere in Scripture does God forbid or condemn any style of music. This includes rock, hard rock, heavy metal, rap, R&B, or country. Therefore, I do not understand why you say rock and roll music is inherently unholy when the Bible doesn’t say any genre of music is unholy. However, if you’re constructing an argument based on 1 Thessalonians 5:22, then it’s more about avoiding the appearance of evil than it is about rock and roll as inherently unholy.
2) One of our freedoms in Christ (Galatians 5:1 and Galatians 5:13) is the ability to choose what kind of music we listen to, including Christian rock music.
3) We must still be wise about how music affects us and our motivations for our interest in any particular song or musical artist, but we are allowed to enjoy any music that strengthens us as followers of Christ (Philippians 4:8).
4) Many issues fall under the category of “matter of opinion” and, according to Romans 14:1, we’re not to argue over opinions. In my opinion, listening to/not listening to rock and roll music falls under Romans 14.
5) If the Holy Spirit advises that we keep away from a certain type of music or song, we should heed that warning (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-rock-music.html
-Vince Wright
Danielle Daly
I do not understand even with the word definition of Satan(which is what his name means) why you dismiss Job. It correlates perfectly and biblically with Newton’s song. God “allowed” the gates of hell to be unleashed on Job.
Job 2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.
It grieves my heart that you would not allow this song to be sung in your church. Martin Lloyd Jones mentions this song in one of his sermons. It has helped me tremendously to understand what was happening after I’d been praying for the Holy Spirit. To deny your congregation this hymn is to deny them of understanding and Gods comfort when we pray to grow. I pray you reconsider, I suspect God will be the one to give you understanding.
Jacksonville Sam
What is the relevance of rock music in Church to analysis of the Hymn by John Newton(I ASKED THE LORD THAT I MIGHT GROW)?
Sam
Romans 3:9-28