How Sweet and Aweful Is the Place is a powerful hymn that reflects on God’s sovereign grace, the joy of salvation, and the call for all nations to come to Christ. Through reverent worship and deep gratitude, it acknowledges the wonder of being chosen by God while longing for His redeeming grace to reach the world.
VERSE 1
How sweet and aweful is the place
With Christ within the doors
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores
VERSE 2
While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast
Each of us cry with thankful tongues
“Lord, why was I a guest?”
VERSE 3
“Why was I made to hear Thy voice
And enter while there’s room
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come?”
VERSE 4
’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in
Else we had still refused to taste
And perished in our sin
VERSE 5
Pity the nations, O our God
Constrain the earth to come
Send Thy victorious Word abroad
And bring the strangers home
VERSE 6
We long to see Thy churches full
That all the chosen race
May with one voice and heart and soul
Sing Thy redeeming grace
Story Behind the Song
In 1707, Isaac Watts, often called the “father of English hymnody,” composed the hymn “How Sweet and Aweful Is the Place.” This hymn was part of his collection Hymns and Spiritual Songs, which significantly influenced congregational worship in the English-speaking world. [1]
The term “aweful” in the title reflects its archaic meaning of “awe-inspiring,” highlighting the profound reverence associated with communion with Christ. Over time, some modern hymnals have updated the language, replacing “aweful” with “awesome” to resonate with contemporary audiences.
Set to the tune ST. COLUMBA, an ancient Irish melody, the hymn has been cherished for its deep theological insights and melodic richness. Its enduring appeal lies in its heartfelt expression of gratitude for divine grace and a longing for the expansion of the church.[2]
Today, “How Sweet and Aweful Is the Place” continues to inspire worshippers, inviting them to reflect on the mystery of salvation and the inclusivity of God’s call to all nations.
Gratitude and the Longing for Salvation
How Sweet and Aweful Is the Place is a meditation on the mystery of divine grace, the joy of salvation, and the call to evangelism. How sweet and aweful is the place with Christ within the doors reflects the beauty and reverence of God’s presence. Psalm 27:4 speaks of this longing: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
The hymn acknowledges that salvation is not earned but given, as everlasting love displays the choicest of her stores, echoing Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
Why was I made to hear Thy voice and enter while there’s room expresses the humility of one who recognizes God’s sovereign choice. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” The hymn does not deny human responsibility but highlights that without divine intervention, people would reject Christ.
When thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve than come reflects the parable in Matthew 22:3, where many refuse the king’s wedding feast. The hymn reminds believers that their salvation is not due to their merit but to God’s calling.
’Twas the same love that spread the feast that sweetly drew us in affirms that the invitation to salvation is the work of God’s love. Ephesians 1:4-5 reveals this truth: “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world… in love he predestined us for adoption.” The hymn stirs a response of gratitude, as each of us cry with thankful tongues, ‘Lord, why was I a guest?’ The heart of the believer marvels at grace, knowing that apart from it, they would still be lost in sin.
Pity the nations, O our God, constrain the earth to come reflects the biblical call to missions. Isaiah 55:11 declares that God’s Word will accomplish its purpose, bringing the lost home. We long to see Thy churches full is a plea for the fulfillment of Revelation 7:9, where a multitude from every nation worships before the Lamb.
True gratitude for salvation leads to a desire for others to experience the same grace. The hymn leaves no room for boasting, only wonder and a longing for all people to join in singing Thy redeeming grace.
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- Bible Verses on Pursuing Our Dreams
- Jesus Our Living Hope
- Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water (Psalm 1:1-6)
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Related themes you might want to include How Sweet And Aweful Is The Place in your list of songs for worship that centered around Christlikeness, Holiness and Purity, Honoring God
How Sweet And Aweful Is The Place lyrics and music by Isaac Watts, (1707) Public Domain
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