I heard a story this week about one of my favorite hymns, an old celtic hymn, I’m sure most of you know – Be Thou My Vision, by Patrick, missionary to Ireland in the early 400′s. (Not all attribute it to him.)
I was listening to a message by Joe Morecraft, so I hope I get all these details right. Joe had heard about some Indian scratchings, from pre-1000, in the mountains in southern Virginia, and he asked his grandma, who was 97 and lived there, if she knew anything about them. She said yes, and told him where about, and to go find an old timer there and they could no doubt give him directions to go see them. He did and found them. But as he was looking at them, he knew these weren’t just Indian scratchings. He had seen these petroglyphs before. It was ancient Irish petroglyph writing, and it was the words to Be Thou My Vision, — in southern Virginia, — in America, written there before 1000 AD. Awesome!
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
SDG,
Lisa
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
This week we learned about a hymn writer new by name to us, Ray Palmer; and also looked at one familiar to us, (and probably you, but perhaps not by name,) Samuel Francis Smith.
Samuel Francis Smith wrote "My Country ‘Tis of This" which is far more a song of patriotism than worship of God. But Ray Palmer, as the book we are reading states, "represents the last major American hymn writer who wrote his hymns from a Calvinistic understanding of God’s Word," (meaning emphasizing the Sovereignty of God, and in all glory to Him.)
Although I knew this hymn before, I was totally unfamiliar with its author. The words of My Faith Looks Up to Thee express my soul:
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,
Pure warm, and changeless be, a living fire!While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!
Listen to and read more about this hymn here.
SDG,
Lisa
“A good hymn is the best use to which poetry can be devoted.”
John Greenleaf Whittier.
Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise Thee,
For the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows:
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise:
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.
Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wanderer, far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,
Him Who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.
Praise thy Savior God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to Him and live.
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease;
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.
Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express.
Low before Thy footstool kneeling,
Deign Thy suppliant’s prayer to bless:
Let Thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,
Love’s pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth Thy praise.
To read our story of learning this hymn – and its author, click here.
Read the words through first then, click here, to hear the tune. We learned it to the one by Ripley – but the default one is good too. These are MIDI files, so not the most beautiful music, but they give you an idea of the tune.
SDG,
Lisa @ Me and My House
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