Hymn Of The Week: April 20, 2020

Be Thou My Vision

Dear Friends,
As we continue to self-isolate, I wanted to begin a new series of articles that I hope will continue after the self isolation draws to a close and we make our way back to worshiping together.

This week’s Hymn is one of First Pres.’ all-time favorites as we learned during the Hymn poll several years ago. At this week’s live-stream you heard Kathy Craig play a bell solo of this timeless hymn. I encourage you to connect with the text in a spiritual way, separate from the music. Hymn texts are their own kind of devotional and this hymn is one of our faith’s most meaningful.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision, oh 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 soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower, Raise thou me heaven-ward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor vain 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, oh, bright heaven's sun Heart of my own heart whatever befall Still be my vision, oh Ruler of all.

This text comes from the 8th century Old Irish. It is a singular voice of fierce devotion rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity that is still relevant today. The translation of the text that we sing today was not in place until 1905. The hymn itself has a fairly recent connection with many Christians today being only a little over a hundred years old. In 1912, Eleanor Hull put the text into metrical form and created over 12 stanzas. The melody is an Irish folk melody.

Stay Healthy!
Philip