Savior, Redeemer of my soul,There is something powerful in the opening message about being made whole through the Savior. Note that the poem/hymn doesn't refer to any specific instance of healing. Hopefully it evokes in your mind your own personal experiences: where the pain of sin, or sickness, or heartache was swallowed up.
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.
Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.
(Orson F. Whitney, Hymns, no. 112)
Although at times the bitter cup that crossed my lips lasted longer than I thought it might (or in frequent selfish moments, should), there is nothing that compares with the arrival of the "sweet." Oh that my cup might always be full of this ... but I suppose that would frustrate the whole taste-the-bitter-to-know-the-sweet part of the Plan.
The second/last stanza really drives home our inability to repay the Savior for His gift. Since I'm already on my soapbox, I'd just point out that often, I feel, when singing hymns at church we do not get their full meaning because the flow of the music does not match the punctuation or separate the thoughts provided in the words.
(For example, in this hymn, think of how the second verse is sung -- combining the thoughts of "but I can love thee" and "thy pure word.")
All that is to say is -- re-read the hymn and note the final punctuations -- and reflect on the message it shares. Perhaps something new will come to your mind, or you gain a deeper understanding of the sentiment expressed by Elder Whitney. I hope that my own will always be similar.
