This song draws from the record in Luke 5:1-11 about the miracle of so many fish hitting Peter’s boat, after which he joined up as one of Jesus’ disciples and got on the path of becoming a fisher of men. A lot of Bible songs from the 1800’s summarize a Bible story and then use its lesson to support a call to action which often shows up in the last verse. That’s what we have here. The lyrics are written in a way that seems to assume people hearing this song would already be well-acquainted with this Bible story. (If in doubt, take a look at Luke 5.) Please give this song a sing-along listen and come back for the notes.
A modern translation reprieve for Peter
The song titled “Cast out the Net” comes from from the 1880’s and was also published with the title “Just For His Sake”. I like both titles, but went with “Cast …” because that call to action seemed like a larger point of the song than the possible motive to act, implied with the other. You might notice for this version I have, in the title and lyrics, “nets” — plural. That’s a change from the original publication, which has “net” — singular.
Years ago someone pointed out to me that Jesus told Peter to “cast out the nets”, yet Peter only cast out the “net” (singular) suggesting Peter’s doubt interfered with his obedience to Jesus. It makes for a great teaching. Several Bibles do indeed have Jesus saying “nets” and have Peter using a “net”, King James among them. While working on this song I learned — and am passing along to you — that newer Bible versions draw from texts that have “nets” plural in both places, so that’s how they present this record in their versions. I also ran into the suggestion that there may have been such a fondness for the tradition of teaching about Peter and his “unbelief” that some translators kept the singular/plural thing going so they could keep that “teaching point” in their traditional repertoire.
Poor Peter!
I’ve spent way more than half my life — so far — riding Peter for his doubt in this record. I was happy to learn about these alternate views, and I’m ready to go with the two “plurals” version and give Peter a break for a season. I do wish Peter well!
Who sees miracles?
We don’t know how many saw this great fishnet-breaking catch. It seems to have figured into a few becoming disciples, and more were there than just Peter, but it does not seem that there was a large crowd of witnesses.
It is true that amazing, astounding miracles are not ONLY reserved for large gatherings or for the rich and famous in distant lands.
Years ago another someone pointed out to me that it was the servants — not all the wedding guests — who actually got to see Jesus turning water into wine. That’s a great teaching point, especially when training “servant leaders”. It is not hard to find other examples from the Bible in which just one — or only a few “insiders” — got to see miracles.
— Only Moses saw the burning bush. (Exodus 3:2-4)
— Only Balaam (and possibly his servants?) engaged the talking donkey. (Numbers 22-22-35)
— Only Elijah, the widow of Zarephath and her son saw the flour and oil supply not run out during the famine. (1 Kings 17-14-16)
— Only Jesus and Peter were in the record of the tax money in the fish’s mouth (Matthew 17:24-27)
— Only Peter, James and John saw the transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1-8)
— Only a small number are mentioned when Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead. (Mark 5:35-43)
— Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus … only Paul and the men traveling with him. (Acts 9:1-8)
There are many more. These Bible records remind us that when it comes to the Lord, miracles are NOT in short supply or limited in kind.
Have you ever heard the song called “Expect Miracles”? Lyrics include,
“♫♪ Expect miracles every day,
expect miracles when you pray,
when you expect them God will find a way,
to perform miracles for you each day. ♫♪”
We don’t need to wait for a crowd, a big meeting, a special guest, or a calendar entry. You count! I count! Lets’ ask, seek and knock!
The moral of this story
The call to action in this song is timeless and good. “Let us not be weary in well-doing.” If we are doing the will of the Lord and not seeing results we think we should be seeing, we can check in with Him and see if there is a reason to change or a reason to quit. In this song and Bible story, Peter had a good reason to quit as far as his experience guided him. Jesus gave him a reason to give it another go, and we are still singing about it today. Let’s remember this record when weariness adds to discouragement and tempts us to quit when it is not time to quit. Let’s remember how things changed for Peter when he heard the Lord and, one more time, he cast out the nets.
God bless you lots
-Dale R.
LYRICS – Cast Out the Nets
Text: Mrs. S. M. I. ( Sarepta Myrenda Irish) Henry (1889)
Tune: M. H. Evans
1. “I have toiled all night and for many a day;
For they say there are fish in the sea,
And yet I have caught nothing, my labor is vain,
And there’s come no increase to me.
I will wash out my nets, I will hang them away,
Draw my fishing boat to the shore;
It is useless to me; I will cast out the nets
In this barren sea no more.”
2. So he bent and labored at washing his nets,
While the Savior walked down to the sea,
Straight way entering into the ship Jesus said,
“Thrust the boat out a little for me,
Launch it out in the deep, quickly cast out the nets,”
But the man with the nets had his doubt;
“We have labored all night, Yet at Thy bidding, Lord,
Once more I will cast them out.”
3. Just how this was done only Jesus can tell,
But the nets were so full that they brake;
For they launched out their ship and they cast out their nets,
As he asked them to do for His sake.
If it seems you have labored in vain until now,
Carry on when the Lord says to thee
“Launch out into the deep, Quickly cast out the nets;
There are fish in the depth of the sea.”
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Very nice, peppy tune.