“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 5:11
I know I’m a couple of days early for St. Patrick’s day. I wanted to write about a very popular Irish hymn that Stephanie will be singing today at church.
Many people already know it as a well-known hymn, but do you know its history and why we sing it today?
First let me say that every month our church holds a fellowship with a Sunday evening meal and we generally have a theme. It was my turn this month to chose the theme so of course, I had to chose St. Patrick.
St. Patrick was not a Catholic but a saved Christian missionary.
He was taken as a slave when he was 16 from Britain to England where he found Christ, His Savior. He later escaped and made his way home. However, God called him to go back to Ireland to see others come to Christ. It is said that he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the people on the island.
While decorating for and getting St. Patrick’s history together for the church, I realized that the beautiful song, “Be Thou My Vision” is actually an Irish hymn. I have asked Stef to sing it for us tonight (maybe I’ll be able to record it). What is even more beautiful is that this song was said to have been written by a poet, Dallan Forgaill, who was born in 530AD. St. Patrick lived in the fifth century! It has me wondering if Dallan knew of St. Patrick and maybe his ancestors were shown the way to Christ by this wonderful man.
While it is pretty popular and I’ll attach a rendition of it here, there is a verses we do not hear often sung. While it is worthwhile to read through all the words to this song, this verse is steeped in Bible doctrine.
Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be Thou my whole armour, be Thou my true might;
Be Thou my soul’s shelter, be Thou my strong tower,
O raise Thou me heavenward, great power of my power.
The author knows that God will protect us but we need to arm ourselves with His Word, His Son, His Holy Spirit. We need to be sheltered in His Almighty Hands as well. God protects His own. Our one vision for life should have THIS focus.