Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

 

How do you express the inexpressible? The mystery of the Creator whose name was unutterable in Hebrew Scriptures, save for the self-described “I AM.” Walter Chalmers Smith attempted this in his classic hymn, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.”

Smith, was born in 1824, in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was the son of Walter Smith, a cabinetmaker. Smith was educated at the grammar school in Aberdeen, and at Marischal College, which he entered at the age of thirteen, graduating M.A. in 1841. His original intention was to adopt law as his profession, but he entered the New College, Edinburg, to study for the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland at the advice from a friend.

Smith served as pastor of congregations in London, Glasgow, and Edinburg. Perhaps his highest tribute came when he was elected moderator of the General Assembly in 1893 for the church’s 50th Jubilee celebration.

In 1853, he married Agnes Monteith and they were blessed with three daughters and a son. In the year 1908 on the 20th day of September, God called him to eternal glory.

This hymn is the only one of his volumes of poetry that remains in common use. Hymnologist Albert Bailey says composing poetry was for Smith “the retreat of his nature from the burden of his labors.”

It is a praise and worship hymn. It praises our God who is eternal, immortal, invisible and all-wise. It is one of those hymns that makes one contemplate the greatness of our God.

The words, “immortal, invisible, God only wise” are taken directly from St. Paul’s letter to his “son,” Timothy. In the first line of the hymn, the parameters of praise are so profound that this hymn becomes a primer of the worship of this incomprehensible God.

The Bible has several verses that mention immortality. 1 Timothy 1:17 describes God as “eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God.” Romans 6:23 states that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:53-55 describes the transformation of the mortal body into an immortal one. 2 Timothy 1:10 states that Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

In the New Testament, immortality is often associated with eternal life, which is a gift from God to those who believe in Him. The Bible also teaches that immortality is not a natural state of human beings, but rather a gift from God.

It is important to note that the concept of immortality is not limited to the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God is described as “the King eternal, immortal, invisible.” Jeremiah 10:10a says: “But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.”

 Verse One

“Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.”

Daniel 7:9

“As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of His head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.'” 

The name “Ancient of Days” refers to Daniel 7:13-14, which again describes a glorious vision of the coming Christ, presented before God the Father: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Unknown

 Verse Two

“Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above,

Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.”

Psalm 36:5-6

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.”

Blueletterbible.org, David Guzik: One can easily imagine that the psalm was written on some natural height from which the singer [David] looked out on a far-stretching scene in which he saw symbols of truth concerning his God. Note the sweep of vision: the heavens, the skies or clouds, the mountains . . .  and over all, the light . . . David can only describe these attributes of God with the biggest things he can think of – the heavens, the clouds that fill the sky and the great mountains.

Verse Three

“To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small,

In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish, but naught changeth Thee.”

Hebrews 1:10-12

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: As magnificent as the earth and heavens are, they all will be treated as an old garment and folded and put away; however, Jesus and His Kingdom will always remain the same yesterday, today, and forever . . . While the heavens and the earth will be changed, Jesus will be unchanged.

Studylight.org, Dr. Constables Expository Notes: Even though the earth as we know it will end, the Son’s rule will continue eternally and with it His joy.

Verse Four

"Thou reignest in glory, Thou rulest in light,

Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

All praise we would render, O help us to see,

‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!"

Some lyrics show this as the first line of verse four: “Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,”

James 1:17

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Biblehub.com, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers: “God,” remarks Bishop Wordsworth, “is the Father of all lights—the light of the natural world, the sun, the moon, and stars, shining in the heavens; the light of reason and conscience; the light of His Law; the light of prophecy, shining in a dark place; the light of the gospel shining throughout the world; the light of apostles, confessors, martyrs, bishops, and priests, preaching that gospel to all nations; the light of the Holy Ghost shining in our hearts; the light of the heavenly city; God is the Father of them all. He is the Everlasting Father of the Everlasting Son, who is the ‘Light of the world.’”

The greatness of God is, indeed, proclaimed in this hymn!

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Godtube.com

Umcdiscipleshiop.org, Dr. Hawn

Christianmusicandhymns.com

Songsandhymns.org

Phamoxmusic.com

Hymnologyarchive.com, Chris Fenner

 

By His Grace . . .