In popular culture, Saint Patrick is associated with a day of celebration in March. But the legacy of this saint goes much deeper. The life of Saint Patrick inspired this classic hymn which leads us, through bible study, to learn ways to be more Christ-like.
The story behind this classic hymn
Our hymn of meditation has a long history which dates to the fourth century. Saint Patrick was born around 373 AD in Great Britain. The exact location is not known for certain: some historians support England, some Scotland, and some Ireland. At age 16, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave in Ireland. During that trauma, he gave his life to Jesus. He was able to escape and return to his home. His family begged him to stay with them. However, he had a dream in which he felt called to return to Ireland as a missionary.
Saint Patrick was approximately 30 at this point and he made the decision to return to Ireland with one book, his Latin Bible. Although the Druids opposed him, his preaching was powerful, and he planted about 200 churches and baptized approximately 100,000 converts.
Saint Patrick’s work inspired believers across the centuries and influenced an unknown 8th century poet to write a prayer asking God to be his vision.
In 1905, Mary Elizabeth Byrne, a scholar from Dublin, Ireland, translated this poem into English. Subsequently, Eleanor Hull, a Manchester, England scholar, rewrote it into verses. Not long after that, it was set to music to the tune of Slane, an Irish folk song.
The words to this great old hymn are as follows.
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, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one
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, O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
The biblical inspiration for this meditation comes from 2 Corinthians.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Saint Patrick’s mission was to help the people of Ireland see the glory of the gospel of Jesus by the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.
The words to this hymn (initially a prayer) indicate a desire for Jesus to be our vision. Those who have been given eyes to see, desire to see Jesus and thereby be changed into His image . . . the sanctification process.
What is your vision of Jesus?
The question to consider for this meditation is When we contemplate/look to Jesus, what do we see?
There are many ways to go about answering that question. I chose to look through the 21 chapters of the gospel of John and select one characteristic/vision of Jesus from each chapter. My decision was based on John’s purpose for writing his book as stated in chapter 20.
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:31
This exercise of reviewing each chapter in John was very worthwhile. I recommend it as a 21-day devotional plan. Write down one thing you discover about Jesus each day and then review what you have seen or learned when you finish. And, as we “contemplate the Lord’s glory” we may grow in His likeness!
Here’s what I found in each chapter.
1. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
From chapter 1 we learn that Jesus is the Word, the Son of God and He came and lived on earth as a man.
2. “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”
From chapter 2 we learn that Jesus did a number of miracles that are recorded in John’s gospel. These miracles (signs) resulted in many believing in Him.
3. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
From chapter 3 we learn that belief in Jesus is the way to eternal life and if we don’t believe, we are already condemned.
4. “The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am he’.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
5. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus has the power to give life.
6. “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus will raise us from the dead to eternal life when He comes again on the last day.
7. “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.”
From this chapter we learn that the world will hate Jesus because He tells the truth about our actions.
8. “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus Is God and existed in the beginning . . . before Abraham was.
9. “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind’.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus came to show the Way to eternal life to those who acknowledge that they are lost (blind). But those who already think they know the way will become blind.
10. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus is our shepherd (He leads us in the path of righteousness) and He sacrificed His life for our sake.
11. “Jesus wept.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. John recorded that He was deeply moved and wept when He saw the grief over the death of Lazarus.
12. “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.”
From this chapter we learn that despite His miracles and His teachings, the people did not believe Him. They were looking for a worldly king . . . one like other nations had!
13. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
From this chapter we learn how we should love and serve others.
14. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.”
From this chapter we learn that there is only one way to heaven . . . through Jesus. All other paths lead to destruction!
15. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus is the source and strength for all the fruit that we produce. If we are not in Him, we cannot produce any good fruit.
16. “But if I go, I will send him to you.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.
17. “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus prayed to the Father for the following:
- Glorify the Son
- Keep believers from the evil one
- Sanctify believers in the truth
- Make believers one
18. “Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king’.”
From this chapter we learn that He is the King!
19. “Jesus said, ‘It is finished’.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus completed the work He was sent (by His Father) to accomplish!
20. “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
From this chapter we learn that the tomb was empty, He rose from the dead, and He ascended to Heaven!
21. “You must follow me.”
From this chapter we learn that Jesus told Peter the same message He gives to us: follow Him!
Closing prayer
As we behold Him, the only begotten of the Father, may we be changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another. Amen.
Hymns for Him 