Humble Grace

Matthew chapters 5-7 record for us what is called the Sermon on the Mount.  It begins with the lovely blessings of Christ called the Beatitudes.  Isaac Watts took these beautiful promises of Jesus and set them to music in his hymn “Blest Are the Humble Souls That See”.  In this eight stanza hymn, one stanza per Beatitude, he makes a poetic melody of the rich blessings of Christ.

He keeps the focus clearly on the spiritual nature of these phrases which is right where Christ had placed it.  Christ did not bless the poor in this passage but rather the poor in spirit.  This is the humble who understand their need for God’s love and grace.  The self sufficient man can be poor or rich so this is not a denouncement of the wealthy.  It is a call for us to see and acknowledge our need of God.  Of the poor in spirit Watts wrote, “Blest are the humble souls that see their emptiness and poverty; treasures of grace to them are giv’n, and crowns of joy laid up in Heav’n.” 

Again Jesus did not bless those who appear pure hearted by earthly standards.  There are none who are pure hearted by God’s standards.  All have sinned and come short of His glory.  Jesus blessed those whose hearts were made pure by God’s cleansing.  Watts said of them, “Blest are the pure, whose hearts are clean from the defiling powers of sin;
with endless pleasure they shall see a God of spotless purity.”

Lastly we see that Jesus did not bless those who suffer for what may be deemed a righteous cause.  He did not condone or promote every cause of human imagination as a just one or that suffering for the causes of human design would bring eternal reward.  Jesus clearly stated that the suffering would be for His name sake.  It is His name that saves sinners and His name that is glorified in heaven.  Watts said, “Blest are the suff’rers who partake of pain and shame for Jesus’ sake; their souls shall triumph in the Lord,
glory and joy are their reward.”  The Beatitudes are wonderful promises of Christ and His grace for those who find their spiritual comfort and hope in Him.  Let us rejoice in the great promises of His grace as given to His children in the Beatitudes.  Sing these beautiful lines of Isaac Watts to a tune of another of his famous hymns, “Jesus Shall Reign”.  

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