A Baptismal Hymn

Baptism is on my mind. Tomorrow is the Sunday of the Baptism of our Lord, and so last week I wrote a column on that for Working Preacher. This morning’s devotional reading happened to be Luke’s brief description of Jesus’ baptism as well. And near the beginning of the week I wrote a short post sharing a few of my convictions and questions about baptism and invited others to do the same, and readers have responded with a fantastic discussion. I’m learning a ton! (I love this internet thing! ☺)

So, naturally, I thought I’d look for poem about Baptism for this week’s poetry post. And, truth be told, the pickings seemed thin. It might be that I didn’t know where to look, but I wasn’t even determined to find a poem about Baptism per se; I’d have been satisfied with a poem about a bath, or water, or being cleaned or anything metaphorically related to Baptism that might be suggestive and evocative and in this way helpful to us in our discussion.

Most of what I found, however, seemed like they’d fit better on the inside of a Hallmark card for Baptism than in the leaves of a book of poetry. There were a few, by poets like George Herbert, that were more apropos, but not many. So if you know some good poems on Baptism, point me in that direction in the comments. In the meantime, I’ll share with you the words of one of Isaac Watts’ hymns on Baptism that I found both intriguing and helpful.

Watts starts not with Jesus’ baptism, or the command to go and baptize, or the exodus through the Red Sea, or the baptism of the Ethiopian, or any of the manifold other stories poets, theologians, and teachers often gravitate to in their meditations on Baptism. Rather, he starts with Abraham receiving God’s promise of blessing in faith and, in response, bringing his sons to be circumcised. Shifting to baptism as the circumcision of the New Covenant, he then jumps to Lydia and the jailer, both in Acts, who when they come to faith bring their whole family with them. Finally, Watts shifts to our baptism, inviting us to see our bringing of our children as similar acts of obedience and gratitude.

Frankly, I hadn’t thought as much about that — that part of the reason we bring our children to God is out of trust of God’s promises, not waiting until they are old enough to make the decision for themselves because, like with so much that is important to us regarding our children, we dare not wait but come eagerly, obediently, humbly, and thankfully, as Watts pens, to “claim the grace.”

Beautiful.

Hymn 121

Thus saith the mercy of the Lord,
“I’ll be a God to thee;
I’ll bless thy num’rous race, and they
Shall be a seed for me.”

Abram believed the promised grace,
And gave his sons to God;
But water seals the blessing now,
That once was sealed with blood.

Thus Lydia sanctified her house,
When she received the word;
Thus the believing jailer gave
His household to the Lord.

Thus later saints, eternal King!
Thine ancient truth embrace;
To thee their infant offspring bring,
And humbly claim the grace.

Isaac Watts, based on Genesis 17:7, 10; Acts 16:14-15, 33.