Welcome!  Hymns have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration to me.  My desire in this blog is to share special hymns with my readers hoping that the words will minister to them, especially in times of great personal need.  If one of these hymns ministers to you, please take time to leave a comment so that I know that my blog is helping others as much as it helps me. Sometimes I will also provide a link where you can go to hear the hymn played.  So, please join me here each week and sing along as we praise God together.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE

When I was growing up I didn't care for some of the older more formal hymns that were sung.  I liked hymns with some pep and back-time, some harmony, and words that really ministered to my needs as a young man.  I admit that this week's hymns was not one of my favorites then.  But as I've grown older and realized how helpless I really am without the leading and guidance of an Almighty Creator, I've learned to think much more about the truth of the words in this hymn.  I've begun to learn how important it is to be reminded of the great attributes of our loving, Almighty God.  I am thrilled and comforted that He is all knowing, all powerful, and always present no matter where I might be.  Now this is one of my favorites.  This week's hymn is a powerful hymn of worship that should make us fall at His feet in awe and reverence.  He is not "the man upstairs" or "our buddy".   He alone is God!  The theme of the hymn is based on I Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever". "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" was first published in Hymns of Christ and Christian Life, (1876). The text was altered by the author and published in W. Garrett Horder's Congregational Hymns. (1884).   May your heart be gripped with awe and amazement as you worship Him by singing these words today.

(1)     Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

(2)   Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

(3)   To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

(4)    Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render; O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

1 comment:

robert said...

Thanks for posting Walter Smith's great hymn, "Immortal, Invisible." (Today is the 1010st anniversary of his death.)

Your comments are interesting. I concur that we sometimes grow to appreciate the words of certain hymns as we mature. It is the same with books and passages of the Scriptures. Babies thrive on milk; but as we mature, we need solid food. (I wish those who feed their congregations an exclusive diet of shallow, repetitious choruses could grasp that.)