(from the Olney hymns)
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing on His wings;*
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.
In holy contemplation
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new;
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may!
It can bring with it nothing,
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,**
Will clothe His people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.
Though vine nor fig tree neither***
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
--William Cowper [pronounced "Cooper"], 1779; part of Olney
hymns, written alongside his friend, John Newton, author of
"Amazing Grace"
*Malchi 4:2-- the Sun of Righteousness [Christ] will rise with
healing in His wings. This idea is also found in a verse of "Hark
the Herald Angels Sing"
**Matthew 6 & Luke 12-- Jesus told His followers that God
clothes the grasses in beautiful lilies that outshine wealthy King
Solomon's best clothing. He feeds the birds, specifically ravens,
though they don't work and plan as the farmer does. Jesus tells His
followers that His Father will certainly take care of them, also, and
that they shouldn't worry.
***Habakkuk 3:17-19, a paraphrase. If all else goes badly, rejoice.
This is not idle, wishful thinking, nor pie in the sky optimism.
Cowper suffered from crippling, pitch black depression at a time
before there were psychiatric medications.
(Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible.)
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2 comments:
Very good, thank you. Cowper knew dark days but the light returned.
You could add, "Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?", Job 38:41.
People like Cowper can really inspire, not only for how God kept faith alive in him through his darkness, but also for his God-given friendships. Friends were patient, talked him through his darkness, and gave him suggestions of activities to keep himself going.
Job was a parallel. He's often pointed out as a Biblical example of clinical depression. But Job's came more from situations. A lot of Cowper's started with the sensitive temperament with which he was born. Yet, God works through all.
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