“O Joy that seeks me through pain….” Who would write such words? Who would not resonate with this deep heart-longing to be lifted up from sorrow to gladness? It is felt within human nature. Maybe each of us could have written this. But we didn’t. George Matheson did.
I begin our new series, Bio-Storytelling, with a story-sketch of his life. George Matheson (1832 – 1906), the author of the hymn, “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go,” caught my attention about 15 years ago as I read the lyrics to his third verse:
O joy that seeks me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
From childhood I remember this hymn in our church’s hymn book. I remember sitting next to my mother and hearing her beautiful, clear soprano tones carrying these words. The melody suits the themes so well. Themes? More than one? Yes, this hymn has four verses presenting four beautiful themes:
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that follows all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seeks me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that lifts up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
What are Matheson’s four themes? They are Love, Light, Joy, and the Cross of Christ. These four “what” themes are really four “who” themes. Note that the second line of all four verses ends with “Thee.” Who? God. We observe a relationship between the man, Matheson, and his God: Love, Light, Joy, and even the Cross is called “Thee.” Interesting. The poem is an address to God, that is, it is a prayer. Have you noticed that many of our hymns and church songs are prayers to God? We should sing them in that spirit, whether in personal devotion or in the assemble of the believers.
What can we tell about George Matheson at the time of composition? His soul is weary, his flame is flickering, his tears flow in the rain, his life’s glory is dirtied by dust and death. We don’t have to know the backstory to see that he is deeply wounded, suffering, and dejected.
We also note that he does not allow a verse to end without facing some real hope on which to focus: love that is richer, light that is brighter and fairer, joy in the morn that is tearless, and the bloody cross as the place where, ironically, endless life begins.
These lyrics touch our hearts because we connect with the images, longings, sorrow, and reoriented spirit. Nudging us to draw close to Christ is our despair, sorrow, or confusion. The good coming from sadness can always be “a closer walk with Thee.”
I hope you add these lyrics to your collection of hymns and songs to enjoy in your devotional and study time. You can listen to this hymn online through any simple search.
The last chapter of my book begins with Matheson’s hymn lyrics and a short two paragraphs about his life. (I have revised the two paragraphs in my book along with a number of little changes which will be in the book in future sales. The following two paragraphs will replace the original two.)
It was the night of June 6, 1882. Quietly and quickly, these words formed in the mind of George Matheson, the forty-year-old pastor, single, blind, and alone in his parish home in Scotland. Earlier that day his sister, who had been his eyes, pen, and confidant since youth, was married. While he rejoiced for her, his heart moved into a deep sorrow.
It has been commonly reported that Matheson had been rejected by his sweetheart twenty years previously when she realized he was going totally blind. Such memories would have compounded his depression that June evening. However, in Donald Macmillan’s 362-page biography of Matheson published one year after his death, the author not only reports nothing of such a relationship, he notes that George claimed, “I have never been in love.”[1] Whatever the case, George, normally sanguine, was immersed in suffering. Sorrow drew him closer to his Savior. From descending depths that evening, comforted by divine love, emerged these verses.
Every chapter in my book includes a hymn, normally as the conclusion, but I begin the last chapter with Matheson’s third verse and the chapter title is “O Joy, Why Do You Seek Me through Pain?”. (Every chapter title is a question.) This title tends to strike many people with a groan of agreement. It reminds us that in this life, joy and sorrow mingle, but beneath is our nagging longing for the good and pleasing. In Matheson’s poem, lyrical sadness becomes lyrical loveliness when sorrow is tempered by Love, Light, Joy, and the Cross of Christ. Thus, we are incrementally transformed.
George Matheson admits that in his suffering he cannot close his heart to joy. More amazingly, he claims to know that Joy is seeking him, calling to him through his pain. This indicates up front in this verse that he will not succumb to despair. How does he fight off giving up? “I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.”
This reminds us of Jesus’s attitude described in Hebrews 12:2 “…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Joy is the forward facing goal and the will of God. Jesus despised the evil, and loved the good. George Matheson adopted Christ’s posture and sturdy hope. Thus, the next decades of his life produced a more spiritually and biblically rooted person and pastor.
The artistry of God. Sing praise to Him!
In my next post, I will tell you about his supportive family, his rigorous education, his books, his ministries in Scottland, and his perspectives on the changing world of science and theology of his day. Did the future follow the trajectory he predicted? We will see. As a blind adult in the 1800s, how did he write 20 books, preach hundreds of sermons (even one to Queen Victoria), and compose a small body of poetry?
My bio-storytelling will be story sketches, enough to be interesting and insightful, and enough to make some of you curious enough to buy or borrow some biographies to explore for yourself.
Why do we read biographies of Christians? Because these people are part of the Body of Christ to which we belong. We read Christian biographies to observe the patterns of their lives, learn from them, and imitate the Christ-patterns they demonstrate. We thank God for these brothers and sisters we will one day meet.
The Apostle Paul’s writes about observing good patterns and following them. He encourages us in this:
“Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17).
Then check out Paul’s audacious charge in Philippians 4:9. (I would never offer such an imperative and resulting claim. Also, note the context of this verse, but it is the right aim for each of us to pursue. Paul had the right and the strength by the power of the Holy Spirit to record this message.)
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).
Next post: Matheson’s story continues. When should we follow him? When should we not follow him?
[1] Donald Macmillan, The Life of George Matheson (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1907). https://archive.org/details/lifeofgeorgemath00macmiala/page/310/mode/2up.
Discover more from Journey North Character
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
