Prone to Wander

Reflection 

Do you ever have a song suddenly stick in your mind, and the tune and lyrics persist? Recently, while completing a portion of my Bible study in 1 Kings, the study prompted the reader to consider David’s desire to build the temple, but his disobedience brought a “no” from God. Instead, David’s son Solomon would build the temple. As I read the passages and answered the questions, the lyrics to a familiar hymn would not leave my mind:

 “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. 

  Prone to leave the God I love. 

  Here’s my heart; O take and seal it; 

  Seal it for thy courts above.” 

I hadn’t sung the song recently and couldn’t even recall its title. But the truth of these lyrics from “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” stung. My heart is too easily prone to wander from what I know is right and best. I am often tempted to connect with the feelings or thoughts of the moment and lose sight of what I truly know is right and best.

Application

Apparently, I am in good company with others who too easily wander away and make choices and decisions that are not for my good or His glory. In 1 Kings, Solomon is given the privilege to build the temple to honor the name of GOD. In chapter 8 verses 22 - 53, we read the heartfelt prayer of this wise king as he dedicates the temple. He acknowledges in verse 23, “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or earth below - you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.”  And yet, King Solomon in the same prayer recognizes the need for help and mercy, asking God to forgive the sins of His people. We are prone to wander and leave the God we love. The wayward nature of humans is shown time and again in scripture, yet God’s covenantal love is steadfast and sure. 

Closing/conclusion

The first verse of this hymn praises the unchanging nature of God, and the last verse articulates the confession of a wandering heart. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit’s prompting of this powerful hymn. I leave you with verses 1 -3; may they serve as an anthem of God’s faithfulness and our need to give Him our whole heart.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing;

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; 

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of God’s unchanging love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger, 

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger, 

Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor,

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter, 

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart; O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above

(Robert Robinson)

~Maryellen Berry