HOLY SPIRIT, TRUTH DIVINE (#377); a Hymn Devotion for 27 August 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“And we are His witnesses of these things; And so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32)
This hymn authored by a notable hymnist and minister, the Rev. Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892) – brother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Samuel was dwarfed by his poet brother, but excelled him in spiritual dimensions of his hymns. This hymn was composed in 1864 – a time of great grief for the nation as the War Between the States raged on. There was, perhaps, a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit by the soldier in the field than those in the security of distance in Maine from the awful carnage. Hard times evoke a keener sense of the things spiritual.
1 Holy Spirit, Truth divine,
dawn upon this soul of mine.
Voice of God, and inward Light,
wake my spirit, clear my sight.
2 Holy Spirit, Love divine,
glow within this heart of mine.
Kindle ev’ry high desire,
purify me with your fire.
3 Holy Spirit, Pow’r divine,
fill and nerve this will of mine.
Boldly may I always live,
bravely serve and gladly give.
4 Holy Spirit, Law divine,
reign within this soul of mine.
Be my law and I shall be
firmly bound,
forever free.
5 Holy Spirit, Peace divine,
still this restless heart of mine.
Speak to calm this tossing sea,
grant me your tranquility.
6 Holy Spirit, Joy divine,
gladden now this heart of mine.
In the desert ways I sing,
spring,
O living Water, spring!
1 Holy Spirit, Truth divine, dawn upon this soul of mine. Voice of God, and inward Light, wake my spirit, clear my sight. The lyrics of this hymn vary slightly from the original of those of its creator in the 1940 Hymnal, I will therefore choose the original. You will observe that each successive stanza illustrates a characteristic of the Holy Spirit. In this first stanza, the Divinity of the Holy Spirit in Trinity is revealed. The Holy Spirit does not starkly shout its soft and tender counsel of unassailable Truth, but comes as softly as the dew of the morning on the soul keen to hear that Voice.
2 Holy Spirit, Love divine, glow within this heart of mine. Kindle ev’ry high desire, purify me with your fire. Herein is revealed the Holy Spirit as a Divine Agent of God’s Love. Love warms the Heart and inspires to higher desires. It warms the heart as the warmth of a hearthside fire at eventide.
3 Holy Spirit, Pow’r divine, fill and nerve this will of mine. Boldly may I always live, bravely serve and gladly give. The Holy Spirit embodies the Divine Power of God which He is. His abode in the heart of the believer endows with courage and zeal. Only by the indwelling Power of the Holy Spirit can the believer live a life of righteousness and compassion.
4 Holy Spirit, Law divine, reign within this soul of mine. Be my law and I shall be firmly bound, forever free. The Holy Spirit imbues with a burning love to obey the Law of God in Liberty of Faith. If the heart is His Temple, he will reign therein and expel every evil inclination.
5 Holy Spirit, Peace divine, still this restless heart of mine. Speak to calm this tossing sea, grant me your tranquility. The peace of an easy conscience is granted by the Holy Spirit; not the peace of the world, but a peace of God that surpasses all understanding. The storms of the restless heart is made calm as the Holy Spirit commands, “Peace, be Still!” Being guided by that loving Spirit, our souls are made secure in the peace of His Presence.
6 Holy Spirit, Joy divine, gladden now this heart of mine. In the desert ways I sing, spring, O living Water, spring! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Divine Joy! As wine to the body is the Joy of the Holy Spirit to the spirit of man. We are made glad under every deprivation of life. It streams from the imparted hope that the Holy spirit conveys – the awful day will pass and all will be well again! “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5
