"I Dare Not Trust in the Sweetest Frame" What Does It Mean?

[mnorian]

I was reading about that song "My hope is built on nothing less then; Jesus Christ and His righteousness"

And heard the words "I dare not trust in the sweetest frame" and wondered what it meant; so looked it up:

"The sweetest frame:
I have been asked what the song means by the phrase ‘the sweetest frame’. As these words were written over 150 years ago it is difficult for us to know exactly what Mote was referring to as he crafted these inspired words. Having done a bit of research on the word ‘frame’, it could mean a number of different things. Some sources suggest it means our earthly frames, as in bodies, that we are so fragile and mortal, and can put no trust in ourselves or others. Other sources suggest it’s about a frame of mind, that we cannot even trust our own thinking. However, I came across this great explanation for the word –

‘In the first stanza, hardly a clearer statement of total dependence on Christ could be made. Mote recognizes that our hope for eternal life depends completely upon Jesus’ righteousness, not on some sweet earthly frame. Nothing in this hymn ever hints that any work on our part can add to Christ’s work in order to secure our eternal salvation. ‘ (A Hymn of Grace: The Solid Rock)

Therefore, as we sing ‘I dare not trust the sweetest frame’ we must think of all those fragile, temporal and earthly things that we put our hope and trust in. Perhaps its finance? Perhaps its family? Our own righteousness? Our own success? Or a certain belief of how the Lord views us? We must also think about all our attempts to make ourselves acceptable to God. We must challenge ourselves, and remind ourselves to not trust in these earthly frames, but only in the completed and full work of Christ."

Cornerstone – Explained

 

[mnorian]

my hope is built on nothing less

JULY 07 2013

By Tag Tuck
Growing up in a traditional church setting I sang a hymn for years before realizing anything about what it was saying. The famous old hymn attests:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

I knew it was about Jesus, but the words “sweetest frame” always puzzled me. What did Edward Mote mean when he penned these words in 1834? For a long time I assumed he was talking about a pretty girl. It seemed my head was always turned toward the “sweetest frame” whenever I walked out my front door. My hope was often found in the desire for a relationship greater than all other relationships. I wanted to be married, but to whom would I be married? When I sang the hymn I was loudly proclaiming that who ever I married, they would have to believe in Jesus. After I got married the old hymn lost a layer of meaning for me because now that “sweetest frame” shared life with me. I tried to sing it simply as a reminder to be on guard against assaults on our marriage, but still it meant less to me than before.

Later I began to realize another meaning to “sweetest frame.” A frame is also a structure, like the frame of a house being built. I find it fun to walk through houses as they are being framed. Where will the living room , kitchen, and bathroom be? Is that a bedroom or a dining room? Guessing what room is what and imaging what this house will be when it is completed is great fun for me. What are the hopes for the future occupant of the house? Maybe a single person who is doing well in their first job hopes this will be the house where they will begin a family? Maybe a husband and wife living in an apartment hopes this will be the house where they will expand their family? A lot of hopes go into this frame.

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

 

[Bumble Bee]

That is so true. I never really questioned those words as I sang them, so thank you for bringing them out!

 

[mnorian]

Cornerstone - Hillsong United Israel Tour / Live Show from the Temple Mount + With Lyrics