Confused by 'I, the Lord of sea and sky'

Hymnal

Just the other day, someone was saying to me how much they love the song “I, the Lord of sea and sky” – it’s one of their all-time favourite hymns. I remember once visiting a church to have a look around, and they were holding a “hymn request” month – people could write their favourite hymns on a bit of paper. This particular hymn came up a lot. On various things I’ve been on with the Church of England with my fellow curates, this song has been requested. It seems to be one everyone’s list of favourite hymns – it’s just one of those hymns with a great tune that makes you want to pump your first in the air and shout “YEAH!” at the end of it.

So – it is with a sense of trepidation that I dare to say: I’m really not sure about it. I’ve had a gut feeling about the hymn for a while now, but I haven’t really thought through why it is that I don’t like it until recently. Hopefully putting it into words will help crystallize my thinking.

I think the essence of the problem, for me, is being uncomfortable with the way the song uses “my people”. In the Bible, the phrase “my people” is used by God to refer to the Israelites. So, for example, Exodus 7:4, “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” Or Leviticus 26:12, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” Or 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Now, I believe that the New Testament requires us to see that the promises God made to Israel in the Old Testament are fulfilled in Christ (see Rob Dalrymple’s book which I reviewed recently, ‘These Brothers of Mine’). Consequently, Old Testament references to “my people” are ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom of God – his people, the Church, the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16).

So, let’s go back to the song. Does the song use the phrase “my people” in that way, i.e. referring to those within the Kingdom of God? I don’t think so. The whole first verse seems to be talking about people who are currently outside the Kingdom: “All who dwell in dark and sin / My hand will save.” And I think this is where I get confused with the song. (As an aside – not to mention the fact that “All who dwell … my hand will save” seems universalist, although I think this is probably not intended).

The song’s imagery is largely drawn from within the people of Israel. Isaiah was called as a prophet to Israel. Samuel was called to be a judge of Israel. The song references the call of both of these men. The second verse says “I have born my people’s pain” – a reference to Isaiah 53:4, which – again – is talking about God bearing the sin of Israel, ultimately of those who trust in Jesus.

The chorus finishes with the line, “I will hold Your people in my heart”. By the time I’ve sung the rest of the song, I’m just not sure who the “Your people” actually are, or what I’m supposed to be doing for them!
Am I being a needless pedant over this? Perhaps. It is certainly true that those in the Kingdom of God were chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4) – and as such ‘my people’ in a sense includes not just those who have trusted in Jesus, but all those who will trust in Jesus. God says to Paul in Acts 18:10, “I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” But then, we don’t know who they are. That’s the point of the Parable of the Sower – we spread the word, and there are a variety of different responses. And we don’t call those who have yet to trust in Jesus “my people”. Saul, for example, while he was breathing out murderous threats against God’s people was certainly not a member of the Kingdom of God!

At the end of the day, I feel like the song is trying to make the (excellent) point that God is the one who saves us, that he plans to work in particular people’s lives, that he acts first, steps in and brings light to our darkness, and that he calls and uses us in his mission. That much is all worthy of singing about.

But I feel like the song is also a little confusing, and a little vague – I can well imagine two people from very different theological backgrounds singing the song and meaning different things by the words. Perhaps that’s why it’s so popular in the Church of England, and other Christian groups: it’s not specific enough for any one group to disagree with!

All in all, I’m not going to start a campaign to stop us singing it, but I think it’s worthwhile thinking through what we are singing – especially our most popular hymns. Even if I am being a needless pedant…


Comments

7 responses to “Confused by 'I, the Lord of sea and sky'”

  1. Helpful thoughts Phill – but what I’d even more helpful is some alternatives that express with greater clarity but no less zeal the intentions of the song. Any thoughts?

    1. Hi Mark,
      That’s a very good question! I think one of the problems with the hymn is that it kind of hits a very large number of things (it’s very general), and what I’d like to do is narrow down more specifically the message you wanted to focus on which would help in choosing a particular hymn.
      If I wanted a ‘drop in’ replacement, I’d go for Townend and Getty – ‘Hear the Call of the Kingdom’ or maybe ‘The Compassion Hymn’.
      If you wanted something to focus more on the social justice aspect of things, maybe Tim Hughes – God of Justice.
      If you wanted something focussed on world evangelisation, one song I learned recently – ‘Be Still and Know‘ by Lex Loizides.
      And of course many hymns do talk about responding to the call of God, even if they’re not about it – e.g. Wesley’s ‘Jesus the name high over all’ – which we sung at my priesting: “Happy if with my latest breath / I may but gasp his name / Preach Him to all and cry in death / Behold, behold the Lamb”
      I probably should have mentioned this in the original post, maybe I’ll do another one if I have more feedback!
      Phill

  2. You make some good points, Phill.
    This particular song illustrates the need to apply careful discernment to songs and hymns that we choose for public worship. Thankfully, as Anglicans, our doctrine is expressed primarily in our liturgy rather than our song (as is the case in Methodism).
    It’s interesting you mentioned the Gettys and Townend, as their songs are amongst those which I too would suggest are the most biblically and theologically sound in the contemporary repertoire (along with Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and perhaps some Hillsong).

    1. Hi Peter,
      I heard once that people learn most of their theology through what they sing – which is a scary thought, and certainly should give us pause for thought when considering worship song lyrics!
      I do like Townend and Getty, although I think in churches I’ve been a part of in the past (not so much in Great Clacton) their songs have been overused. I remember we went through a phase a few years ago of singing ‘In Christ Alone’ almost every week! – for a while the song lost its appeal with me due to over familiarity, although it’s back to normal now and I still love it.
      Hillsong are interesting – I saw someone write a review of Hillsong (the original Australian one) not so long ago who said that their songs were usually excellent, even if the preaching was not. My favourite Hillsong song of late is ‘Man of Sorrows’ – very good lyrically and musically.
      Speak to you soon,
      Phill

  3. Deborah Ford avatar
    Deborah Ford

    I love this hymn and have just been listening to it, after returning from my local walk to the sea, it came into my head. I also wondered at the words but assume the ‘My people’ refers to God’s Elect, throughout time on this earth.

    1. Thanks Deborah. I think part of the problem is that there is an ambiguity. It could be interpreted in a universalist way. It seems like it’s taking Biblical images and using them differently, which is probably why I find it confusing.

      But I appreciate that a lot of people really like the song and I’m sure when most people sing it they mean the right things!

  4. Deborah ford avatar
    Deborah ford

    I do see where you are coming from, I looked up the writer, it is a modern hymn, 1981. I generally prefer the much older hymns and Christian writings!

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