The Story Behind the Hymns
THE STORY BEHIND "COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING"

Few hymns capture the wonder of God's grace as beautifully as Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Written in 1758 by Robert Robinson (1735–1790), this timeless hymn has encouraged Christians for more than two and a half centuries to remember God's faithfulness and rely on His grace.

Robert Robinson was far from God during his youth. At the age of 17, he listened to a powerful sermon preached by the renowned evangelist George Whitefield. Though he initially resisted the message, the Holy Spirit continued to work in his heart, and after months of conviction, Robinson gave his life to Christ. Filled with gratitude for the grace that had transformed him, he wrote Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing at just 22 years old.

The hymn opens with a heartfelt prayer:

"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace."

These words acknowledge God as the source of every blessing and ask Him to prepare the believer's heart for continual praise.

One of the hymn's most intriguing lines is:

'Here I raise mine Ebenezer."

This phrase comes from 1 Samuel 7:12, where the prophet Samuel erected a memorial stone after God delivered Israel from the Philistines. He called it Ebenezer, meaning "Stone of Help," declaring, "Thus far hath the Lord helped us." Robinson used this biblical image as a testimony that God had faithfully guided and sustained him.

Another deeply personal verse has resonated with generations of Christians:

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love."

These words honestly express the believer's struggle with a wandering heart while pointing to the need for God's preserving grace. It is this combination of humility, honesty, and confidence in God's mercy that has made the hymn so enduring.

Today, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing remains one of the most cherished hymns in Christian worship. Its message reminds believers that every blessing comes from God, that His grace is sufficient for every need, and that He remains faithful to those who trust in Him.

"Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood."

That is the enduring message of this beloved hymn: the God who saves is also the God who keeps.