‘Uje unisaidie‘ is the 45th hymn in the Nyimbo za Injili book by Evangel Publishing House in Nairobi, Kenya. The book’s publisher aims for it to be a medium of blessings to individuals and people (congregations) who desire to worship and praise God at home, in educational institutions, and churches.
Uje unisaidie Lyrics [Nyimbo za Injili 45]
1 Uje unisaidie,
Mwokozi wa Baraka;
Rehema yako ni tele,
Nikutolea sifa:
Unifundishe kusifu,
Sifa za malaika;
Nimekaa upendoni,
Upendo wa hakika.
2 Naja kwako unishike,
Najitoa kabisa;
Kwa mapenzi yako niwe,
Mwaminifu wa sifa:
Nilipotembea mbali,
Yesu alinipata;
Akaniokoa kweli,
Kwa damu ya salama.
3 Kwako nimekuwa mdeni,
Umenipa neema;
Nisipotelee mbali,
Unifunge kwa wema:
Ni mwenye kutangatanga,
Ni mwenye kupotea;
Uchukue moyo wangu,
Unifunge kabisa.
Equivalent Hymn (English Translation):
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!
2 Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3 O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
Background
Composition
The hymn ‘Uje unisaidie’ (‘Come, Thou fount of every blessing’) was written by Robert Robinson (1735-1790), an English Baptist minister and hymn writer, in 1758, shortly after his conversion. It was his heartfelt expression of gratitude for the transformative power of God’s grace. He wrote this hymn to express his thanks for his conversion and to ask for God’s help to remain faithful.
Robert also revealed his deep awareness of his human frailty and a fear of straying from God’s path. The second verse, particularly the line “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love” is a very honest admission of his own personal struggles.
Moreover, Robert had a rather colorful early life, marked by periods of rebellion and skepticism. However, he experienced a profound conversion at the age of 20, influenced by George Whitefield’s preaching. He then dedicated his life to ministry.
Come, Thou fount of every blessing
While the hymn doesn’t directly quote one specific verse, it draws upon several biblical themes. The line “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” refers to 1 Samuel 7:12 (Ebenezer), where Samuel set up a stone as a memorial to God’s help because an Ebenezer is a stone of help. This hymn is a song of thanksgiving.
The overall theme of God’s grace and mercy is found throughout the Bible, as well as the concept of God as a “fount” or source of all blessings. There is also the idea of redemption and salvation through Christ.
Additionally, the most commonly used tune for the hymn is “Nettleton,” which is an American folk melody. The hymn is very popular in many denominations because it is a very personal expression of thanks. It resonates with believers today, reminding you and me of the importance of gratitude, humility, and reliance on God’s grace.
