How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds: A Look at a Hymn by John Newton

John Newton was a wonderful hymn writer. While he is best known for writing Amazing Grace, another popular hymn is How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds. This hymn focuses on the power of Jesus’ name and tells us that by calling on it we can be soothed, healed, fed, guarded, and refreshed. What wonderful news!

Read: The Profound Message of “Amazing Grace” – A Journey from Sin to Salvation

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
and drives away our fear.
Verse 1: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton

In the first verse we are introduced to the joy and comfort of calling on Jesus’ name. When we are sad, hurt, or afraid, just listening to the name of Jesus can comfort and soothe us. When we read our Bibles and know Jesus’ character, all it take is a single word to bring back the knowledge of exactly what Jesus is capable of accomplishing. In the end, we are assured that he will make everything right.

It makes the wounded spirit whole
and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary, rest.
Verse 2: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton

How does he accomplish this? It is by making our spirits whole! Just like our bodies need to be fed, so do our souls. We know that God cared so much for the Israelites that he sent them bread from heaven, manna, every day while they wandered the dessert for 40 years. He didn’t forget them once! How much more important are our souls than our bodies? When we have so much trouble that our heart aches and we become weary, God will rescue our souls!

O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.
Verse 3: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton

This care should result in our sincere praise. As we get to know Jesus through reading our Bible, praying, and seeing him answer, this should inspire our grateful worship. Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king. He is the Lord of our lives, our shepherd, our guardian, and our friend. He is the only way to salvation and is the only thing we need to enter into an eternity of joy. Praise is the least we can do to show our gratitude.

How weak the effort of my heart,
how cold my warmest thought;
but when I see you as you are,
I’ll praise you as I ought.
Verse 4: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton

Sometimes this gratitude is much slower and more reluctant than it should be. Our hearts are weak and our efforts quite pathetic. Even if we don’t realize it now, there will be a day when we will fully see Jesus’ character and praise him as we should.

Till then I would your love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of your name
refresh my soul in death.
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton

Until that point in time, we should do our best to praise Jesus with everything we have. This song is a great reminder that it is only Jesus’ name that will revive our souls and make them whole. Do we want to allow our souls to become more and more damaged with each sin, or do we want to accept the complete healing that Jesus offers?

Read: The Remarkable Transformation of John Newton: From Slave Ship Captain to Hymn Writer