But God gives wisdom
Colossians 3:16-17 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Romans 11:33 Doxology: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
I’m posting today instead of tomorrow so you can join me in saying “Happy birthday” to my husband Dave. I’ve chosen to feature one of his favorite hymns. Having a St. Patrick’s Day birthday has meant he almost always has a cake with green icing. Here are some pics I found from a few years ago (2011).
Paul’s admonition to the Colossian church, like Ephesians 5:19-20, embraces “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” And it brings in the concept of wisdom from God, which immediately makes me think of the hymn “Be Thou My Vision.” The second verse begins, “Be Thou My Wisdom.”
I’ve received several communications from Wheaton College classmates the last few weeks asking, “Are you going?” What a delight to respond “Yes! Are you?” I’m extra-motivated because my brother’s 65th birthday falls on the same weekend, and he lives in Wheaton (when he’s not in Guatemala building his retirement home).
None of us can believe it’s been fifty years since we graduated from college. When we reminisce, someone is bound to say, “Remember singing “Be Thou My Vision” in chapel?” Two thousand voices, “all the verses, all the parts” swelling with the organ in Edman Chapel’s amazing acoustics.
I don’t know whether previous or later generations of Wheaton students hold the same regard for “Be Thou My Vision.” But I do know that Dave, who graduated three years before me, and my sister-in-law Jennie, who graduated three years after me, love this hymn as much as I do. The wisdom packed into this ancient Irish hymn has helped anchor each of us through the choices and challenges of our lives.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Nought 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 Armor, and be Thou my Light
Thou my soul’s Shelter and Thou my high Tow’r
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.
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.
We learned more than knowledge at Wheaton. We gained wisdom as well.
Here’s the story of “Be Thou My Vision” told by Veronica of A Woman’s Song Ministry, taking us all the way back to St. Patrick in the fifth century.
Do you have a favorite rendition of “Be Thou My Vision”? Here are several I’ve been enjoying:
National Christian Choir (A dear friend of mine sings with this amazing choir. I had the privilege of attending one of their concerts a few years ago.)
Debra Kornfield 