I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, No sudden rending of the veil of clay, No angel visitant, no opening skies, But take the dimness of my soul away.
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart By: George Croly, 1780-1860
Listen as you read. This is a nice string quartet version.
On Tuesday we considered the first two lines of this stanza, and began our examination of what we need not ask of God. We continue that today and then turn the corner to what we do need to ask of Him. Interesting, the things we are purposed to NOT ask for are primarily external, while the one need is internal. Let’s think about this.
No Angel Visitant
The next item or experience on our list of things we shall not ask of God: and angel visit. How do you imagine that occurring? Something like the image above?
When I think of angel visits a number of different ones come to mind: Abraham, Mary, and Joseph, to name a few. The greatest angel visit so far in history though was undoubtedly that over the manger in Bethlehem that heralded our Savior’s birth.
Angels Over Bethlehem
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ““Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13-14ESV
No Opening Skies
This angelic appearance was also an opening of the skies, like the time Jacob saw angels going up and down a ladder out of heaven, but there are other times when the skies opened where no angels are mentioned. The skies opened up for Moses when God came down on the mountain during the Exodus. The skies opened at Jesus’ baptism, a voice from was heard and the Holy Spirit settled on Him, but no angels. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus. And there are more.
Opening Skies
What they all have in common, open skies with or without angels, is that God is doing something extraordinary in each occurrence to reveal something about Himself, His purposes or His. Maybe if an angel visited us, or God suddenly pulled the heavenly curtain back so we could see His glory, that would solve our problem. What the hymn is saying again though is to NOT ask for these things, extraordinary as they may be. Instead ask for something even better.
What do you think? If angel appeared to you, or the skies opened, do you think you could continually draw off that experience to discern the Spirit’s work? I think I would be inclined to let the wonder of that moment fade. As clearly as I may have seen God in that moment, I think I would loose that clarity over time. So I would agree with the prayer of this hymn that there is something better.
Clarity of Soul
And finally here it is. The problem is not external, but internal. So the solution will not manifest initially externally, but internally.
God reveals Himself in a myriad of ways every single day. Our soul simply often fails to be aware enough to grasp it. What we really need is to have the dimness of our soul replaced with a keenness of soul.
Brightness of Soul
With regard to the eyes, dimness often means not bright or clear. With regard to the soul, in similar fashion to the mind, dimness means slow to understand, or simply lacking the capacity to discern.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14ESV
So the writer gets to what he does want, clarity of soul, something that is impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Our souls are dim, slow to grasp the surpassing greatness of our God. Ask the Spirit to help you understand His work and ways by sharpening the aptitude or brightness of your soul.
Spirit, I acknowledge that I do not need angel visits or opening skies. What I need is clarity of soul. Remove the things that cause my soul to be dim so that I may live with a keen awareness of Your presence with me. In Jesus name. Amen.
Bright Thinking!
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Podcast 6.2 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
This stanza contrasts the things for which we often long because they appear so desirable, with the thing for which we should truly long. The first three lines focused on the things we determine to not ask for, in this first line, dreams and visions. Determine to not seek them.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away…For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Our flesh impairs our ability to clearly see the things of the Spirit. Though it would be wonderful to experience an abrupt tearing of the curtain the flesh creates so we could discern the things of the Spirit, like we will one day, the hymn chooses not to ask for this either. Can you come to terms with having to deal with the weaknesses of the flesh?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Angels are often mentioned in the Scriptures, and the skies opened to show something of God’s purposes on more than one occasion, never quite like this moment over Bethlehem pastures. Even still, there is something we would prefer even more in regard to the Spirit’s work. Can you imagine that?
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
And finally the writer gets to what he does want, clarity of soul, something that is impossible beyond the work of the Spirit. Our souls are dim, slow to grasp the surpassing greatness of our God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand His work and ways.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, No sudden rending of the veil of clay, No angel visitant, no opening skies, But take the dimness of my soul away.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
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