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.
So our stanza this week takes through a list of things we at first might be inclined to seek, but instead offers us a better alternative when considering the work and presence of the the Holy Spirit. There are some interesting images conjured through the list and we will consider each as we tune and think. Won’t you come along as we continue to consider how we might welcome the work of the Heaven-Descended Dove?
No Dream
Look at the little one sleeping peacefully. All snuggled up and ready for a night of rest. Maybe there are visions of sugar plums dancing in her head…maybe not. What’s wrong with asking for a dream?
This is an interesting stanza, left out of many occurrences of the hymn. It is a litany of things we do not want which builds to a crescendo culminating in the thing we do truly need. In lieu of what we really need, God give us no nightly visions, or prophetic thrills. What makes it interesting is that dreams, visions and prophesies are actually promised by God when He pours out HIs Spirit in the last days.
“‘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; Acts 2:17 ESV
Though they are promised, we will not ask for them. Why? Because there is something better in the estimation of the writer. What is that something? Well, interestingly it is something that seems far less dramatic than all the things this stanza commits to NOT ask for.
And prophet ecstasies, those can be pretty dramatic. Even though they should always line up with Scripture and point us to Christ and His cross, this faith we have has a prophetic side to it. Take for instance the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2 when he mentions knowing a man who was taken up to the third heaven. Say what?That sounds like a pretty incredible journey, yet we are invited to ask the Lord NOT to give us these kinds of ecstatic, prophetic experiences. Why? Because there is something even better we can ask for according to the writer. What is that something? Well, let’s keep going.
Veil of Clay
First, clay does not make a very good veil, unless of course you want to see nothing at all through it. Second, that is exactly what the stanza is referencing, but obviously there is no actual clay involved in the imagery created. We are the clay, or more specifically our flesh.
Our flesh is a great weakness. It seems it would have helped if when sin was defeated, our flesh would have been eradicated, or at least torn to pieces, but God had other designs. He chose to put something of inestimable value, the light of the Gospel, in these jars of clay that are our bodies, as in says in 2 Corinthians 4:7. To that end, it seems like tearing the curtain of or flesh so that the Gospel can be put on full display would be a great idea.
And then there is the other perspective. Not only does our flesh keep others from seeing the Gospel, it keeps us from seeing clearly the things of the Spirit. It mars our perspective and limits our clarity. Though it often keeps us from seeing him clearly, ask God to help you trust His better way and better time to address it the veil of clay that is your flesh. Do NOT ask Him to shred it so you can simply see more clearly, though you long for that day.
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. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10-12 ESV
Submit your life to the Potter’s Hands again today (Isaiah 64:8), and ask for something better. What? We will think about that on Thursday after we consider a couple more things NOT to ask for.
Happy Tuning!
Spirit of God, I choose to forego asking for dreams and visions, so I can simply know the power of Your presence. I choose to trust you to work through this earthen vessel, though I would love to be free of its clouding weaknesses. Teach me what to ask for today. Jesus name. Amen.
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Video 6.2 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
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.
This is an interesting stanza, left out of many occurrences of the hymn. It is a litany of things we do not want which builds to a crescendo culminating in the thing we do. In lieu of what we really want, give us no nightly visions, or prophetic thrills.
Our flesh is a great weakness. It seems it would have helped if when sin was defeated, the flesh would have been eradicated, or at least torn to pieces, but God had other designs. Though it often keeps us from seeing him clearly, ask God to help you trust His better way to address it.
Maybe if an angel visited us, or God would pull the heavenly curtain back so we could see His glory, that would solve our problem. Still the hymn writer believes there is a better remedy. Will you wait for God to work His plan?
And finally here it is. The problem is not external, but internal. God reveals Himself in a myriad of ways. Our soul simply often fails to be aware enough to grasp it. Ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen the aptitude of your soul.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Image Attributions
No Dream – Image by stine moe engelsrud from Pixabay
No Prophet Ecstasies – Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
No Sudden Rending – https://gfycat.com/alertfirsticeblueredtopzebra
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