The Background behind one of my favorite hymns... "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

Born in 1735, seventeen year old Robert Robinson ran the streets of London in gangs, caring not for anything spiritual. He was just a small boy when his dad died. In 18th century England, there was little in the way of a social welfare system and this meant that he had to go to work while still very young. Without a father to guide and steady him, Robert fell in with bad companions.

One day his gang of rowdies harassed a drunken gypsy. Pouring liquor into her, they demanded she tell their fortunes for free. Pointing her finger at Robert she told him he would live to see his children and grandchildren. This struck a tender spot in his heart. “If I’m going to live to see my children and grandchildren,” he thought, “I’ll have to change my way of living. I can’t keep on like I’m going now.”

A few nights later, Robert Robinson, half serious and half in fun, decided to go to a tent meeting to hear the Methodist preacher George Whitefield. To cover his “weak” urge, he suggested that the boys go with him and heckle the gathering. “Let’s go laugh at the deluded Methodists” was his invitation to his gang. Whitefield preached on the text: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7. Robert left in dread, under a deep sense that George Whitefield was preaching to him alone.

Finally, at the age of twenty, Robert made peace with God and immediately set out to become a preacher himself. He wrote a letter to George Whitefield and told him that he envied the happiness that he saw on the faces of those people in that tent. Two years later, in 1757, he wrote a hymn which expressed his joy in his new faith: Come Thou Fount of every blessing

Years later Robert did wander away from God. In a spiritually backslidden condition, Robert was traveling in a stage coach one day. His only companion was a young woman unknown to him. In the providence of God, and not realizing who it was she spoke with, the woman quoted Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, saying what an encouragement it had been to her. Try as he might, Robinson could not get her to change the subject. She asked him what he thought of the hymn she was humming. He responded, “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.” Gently, she replied, “Sir, the ‘streams of mercy’ are still flowing.” He was deeply touched by that. As a result of the encounter he repented. His fellowship with the Lord was restored through the ministry of his own hymn, and a Christian’s willing witness.

The Streams of Mercy are still flowing
We need to hear this message, beloved of God!

To the one who has felt disconnected… or ashamed… or just “in a rut,” The Streams of Mercy are still flowing!

To a world that is host to enormous amounts of suffering. Suffering due to war caused by Mankind. Suffering due to greed adopted by Mankind. Suffering and grief due to sickness and death. We need to hear that the Streams of Mercy are still flowing!

The Streams of Mercy are still flowing! This is an objective reality that transcends time and place. The streams of mercy flow even when we do not recognize them, see them, or feel the presence of God in our lives. The good news is that our subjective experience, does not overshadow God’s transcendent plan!