Hello, OCBC family. Let me share a passage with you, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17 – HCSB). This passage is a closing word that Paul used after sharing his testimony. He called himself the worst of the sinners, but because of the mercy of God he is a new creature. His only reaction after this marvelous act of God is an explosion of worship toward God, the eternal, the immortal, the invisible, the only wise.
This passage was used by Walter Chalmers Smith from Aberdeen, to create the hymn that we love to sing, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.” Smith was ordained pastor of the Scottish Church in Chad well Street, Islington London. He wrote several hymns and created a collection called “Hymns of Christ and Christian Life (1883). His original version of “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” had six stanzas, but Percy Dearmer edited the text into a four stanzas version for the English Hymnal (1906). These are the verses that we normally sing here at OCBC.
The melody of the hymn has a Welsh origin, and is a very easy melody to follow and to learn; it sounds great in unison or in harmony. We sang it this past Sunday and my heart was full of joy listening the saints singing this powerful hymn of adoration.
Here is, again, the lyrics of this hymn, but do not sing it but read it; meditate on these words as a devotional time.
1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, 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 like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.
4 Thou reignest in glory, thou dwellest in light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render; O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!
In His service,
Israel
This passage was used by Walter Chalmers Smith from Aberdeen, to create the hymn that we love to sing, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.” Smith was ordained pastor of the Scottish Church in Chad well Street, Islington London. He wrote several hymns and created a collection called “Hymns of Christ and Christian Life (1883). His original version of “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” had six stanzas, but Percy Dearmer edited the text into a four stanzas version for the English Hymnal (1906). These are the verses that we normally sing here at OCBC.
The melody of the hymn has a Welsh origin, and is a very easy melody to follow and to learn; it sounds great in unison or in harmony. We sang it this past Sunday and my heart was full of joy listening the saints singing this powerful hymn of adoration.
Here is, again, the lyrics of this hymn, but do not sing it but read it; meditate on these words as a devotional time.
1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, 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 like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.
4 Thou reignest in glory, thou dwellest in light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render; O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!
In His service,
Israel
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