Hymns: God Moves in a Mysterious Way

It’s been too long since I’ve done a hymns post…

I’ve recently come to appreciate William Cowper’s God Moves in a Mysterious Way very much. It’s a great hymn about the unfathomable providence and goodness of God. This hymn really describes the sovereignty of God over all circumstances in life. Even when situations don’t make sense and things seem to be at their worst, God is in complete control, and He also has a specific purpose for whatever circumstances He gives you.

William Cowper (1731-1800) was a man whose life was filled with constant pain and hurt. Before he was born, his mother had already given birth to three children, all three of whom died. After his birth, his mother had two more children, both of whom died. His mother died when he was six, and his father, who didn’t show much interest in him, sent him to boarding school. In boarding school, William Cowper was bullied by an older student. Just take a moment to imagine how traumatizing this would have been to a young William Cowper, who grew up essentially without a father nor a mother. It seems that he was never able to fully recover from this.

In 1763, his father arranged for him to be a clerk in Parliament, but rivals in Parliament challenged him and called for a public interrogation before he would be made a clerk. The pressure was too much for William to handle, and he attempted to take his life multiple times, though God sovereignly prevented him from doing so. He was then committed to an insane asylum, where, by God’s providence, he was tended to by a Dr. Nathaniel Cotton, a Christian. William Cowper believed himself to be damned and condemned without hope, but Dr. Cotton shared the gospel with him.

After reading the Bible and discovering the hope to be found in Christ, William Cowper became a Christian. He later became close friends with John Newton, a former slave ship captain who became a pastor and went on to author the famous Amazing Grace. John Newton and William Cowper collaborated together to write a hymnal that was published in 1779. God Moves in a Mysterious Way and There is a Fountain Filled with Blood were among the hymns that William Cowper had written for this hymnal.

Sadly, William Cowper struggled with depression and doubts of his own salvation until his death in 1800. Though he never doubted the character of God nor the saving power of Christ, he frequently doubted his own salvation, as if he saw himself as an exception to the general principles of God’s goodness. It’s very tragic, and it hurts me to think about it, but I can understand why he might have this attitude, in light of the events in his life. It is evident though, from this hymn, that William Cowper had a very high view of God, and in the midst of all the suffering, he understood that God was completely sovereign over his circumstances.

I can’t do justice to William Cowper’s life; this is but a brief summary, and I skipped over many details, so I strongly encourage and highly recommend that you read John Piper’s telling of William Cowper’s story on Desiring God. It will give you a much better picture and understanding of him, and Piper also gives a lot of additional insight.

I don’t know the original melody for this hymn but I have come to enjoy David Lee’s rendition of the hymn. He adds his own chorus: And though I walk in valleys dark, Your light will guide my way. Your sovereign grace shall ever blaze and pierce the darkness through.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face

His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain
God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain 

I find that I sometimes feel like William Cowper; I understand and affirm the sovereignty of God and His goodness and faithfulness, but I still doubt that it applies to me, specifically, and personally. Perhaps you feel the same way at times. My encouragement to you is to always know and understand that God is faithful, and He is faithful not only in a general sense, but also in a specific sense, to you personally. If you are a Christian, the fact that God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved you, has brought you out of darkness and into light is evidence enough of His goodness. He has been good to you in spite of your rebellion against Him, and He will continue to be good to you. Even when things don’t make sense and it seems like God has abandoned you, know that God works all things for the good of those who love Him. His purposes are for your good, for your sanctification, and He never wastes a trial or a pain that He brings you through. His ways are higher (and far better) than our ways.

-BChiu

References:

http://www.bulletininserts.org/bulletininsert.aspx?bulletininsert_id=13

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/biographies/insanity-and-spiritual-songs-in-the-soul-of-a-saint

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/608

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