Julia Harriette Johnston was born in Ohio, in 1849. She lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania most of the first six years of life, while her father pastored a church there. At the age of six she moved with her family to Peoria, Illinois where her father was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Peoria. Her mother and grandmother were poets, and Johnston originally wrote verse under the pen name, Juniata.
Johnston authored many books on Christian missions and missionaries along with hundreds of hymns. Her mother founded the Presbyterian Missionary Society of Peoria and Johnston served as president for more than twenty years. She also wrote Sunday school lessons for David C. Cook Publishing Company. She died in 1919.
Many of Johnston’s hymn texts were published in her books. This hymn is dated to 1910. The lyrics express the unending grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The lyrics express the dark, despairing world we live in until we accept the grace “where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.”
Daniel Brink Towner composed the music for the poem. He was born in 1850 in Rome, PA, where he was reared, and received an academic education. His father, Prof. J. G. Towner, was a singer and music teacher of quite a reputation, and it was from him that the son received his early musical training.
At the age of seventeen he was known throughout PA, NY and Ohio as “the wonderful boy bass,” appearing in many concerts. A few years later he began to teach vocal music and he became music director at Moody Bible Institute. He also gained quite a reputation as an oratorio baritone soloist.
From his early youth he had dreams of someday being a composer and began to write songs and anthems even before he had studied harmony. Like many of our modern gospel song writers he began by writing secular songs, some humorous, and some sentimental. But as he became more actively engaged in the conducting of church music, these gave way for the gospel songs which have made him so widely known.
Dr. Towner is among the world's most prolific gospel song
writers. He has published more than two thousand compositions, and this only
represents a part of his work as a musical composer. He has edited in part, or
wholly, fourteen books, three of which have been for male voices and one for
female voices.
His songs are known around the world and are to be found in
most of the hymn and tune books both in America and the British Empire. Some
other hymns he composed music for are: "My Anchor Holds," "Trust and Obey" and "Saved
by the Blood."
Dr. Towner is also, by common consent, one of the greatest
evangelistic singers and leaders. His ability to lead a great chorus and
congregation was unsurpassed. As a teacher of gospel song and composer he
stands in the front rank.
Stanza one connects the singer with the Romans 5:20b
passage. These words remind the sinner that despite what has happened in the
person’s life, God’s grace has wiped away all sin through the death of Jesus.
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: Adam’s sin has brought disastrous consequences for the entire human race, but God’s grace is more than able to cancel those consequences. His gift is not just the opposite of Adam’s sin; it is far more. Adam’s one act of sin brought condemnation and death, but God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ brings justification and life, even though people have repeated Adam’s sin countless times. As humankind’s representative head, Adam brought death. As humankind’s new representative head, Christ brings life.
In stanza two, Johnston uses the imagery of the “sea waves cold” to describe the effects of sin. While the sinner may indeed be drowning in the vast, bleak, cold ocean with no hope in sight, the grace poured out on the sinner is greater and deeper than anything else and it leads the sinner “to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Commentary: This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by His death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all His other works.
In the third stanza Johnston asks a rhetorical question to which she answers with the imperative statement, “Look! There is flowing a crimson tide.” From the blood of the Lamb that is freely poured on the sinner, that person becomes as pure and bright as snow.
Dailyverse.knowing-Jesus.com: An inner cleansing of the heart and mind is what the Lord desires of all His people, which should be reflected in outward deeds of righteousness and social justice. All Scripture is for our learning and there is much that Christians in the body of Christ can learn from Isaiah. Trusting God's Word, we have to admit our guilt, renounce our idolatry, repent and recognize that we are sinners who need a Savior.
Stanza four is the invitation to the sinner.
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: This applies to all who cast themselves upon God in faith, Jews and Gentiles alike. Before people can believe this message, they must hear it. Therefore, Christians must be sent to proclaim it. Not all will accept the message, but Christians must proclaim it nevertheless. And the message they proclaim is the Good News concerning Jesus Christ.
Kenneth W. Osbeck, author of the devotional, Amazing Grace, wrote: “God’s grace is not merely a sufficient grace; it is an abounding grace—‘that you will abound in every good work.' His grace provides our eternal salvation as well as the enablement to know life more abundantly. Matchless grace indeed!"
