Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 22

(1) His Eye Is On The Sparrow

The hymn “His eye is on the sparrow” was written to encourage all who are some times tempted to be discouraged. Circumstances, sorrow, or trial come upon us and we can lose the joy and courage that should be ours.

This hymn was inspired by a couple, the Doolittles of Elmira, New York. For twenty years, Mrs. Doolittle had been confined to bed as an invalid. Her husband, a partial invalid, managed his business from a wheelchair.

One day, the evangelist Dr. W. Stillman Martin and his wife came to visit them. Together they had written the beautiful hymn “God Will Take Care of You,” with Mrs. Martin writing the words and Dr. Martin the music.

The Martins were deeply impressed with the joyful spirit that the Doolittles maintained in spite of their adversity. “What is the secret of your joy?”, Dr. Martin asked. “His eye is on the sparrow,” Mrs. Doolittle replied, “and I know He watches me.”

The reply lodged in the mind and soul of Mrs. Martin, who pondered the questions and answers. Mrs. Doolittle’s testimony had inspired, and set the verses that today are so well known.

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely,
And long for Heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He,
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;

“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender Word I heard,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Tho’ by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

May the joyful chorus of this hymn be our daily experience!

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

(Extracted from “Song in the Night – Inspiring Stories behind 100 Hymns Born in Trial and Suffering” by Henry Gariepy.)

(2) Charity Believeth All Things (1 Corinthians 13:7b)

Biblical love is not sceptical nor suspicious but gives the other person the benefit of the doubt. Charity assumes the best motive and therefore gives the unbridled trust. He is considered innocent until proven otherwise. It is an approach that builds trust. A lack of this grace would lead to scornfulness, cynicism and suspicion.

When Job lost his wealth, children, health, servants, even the favour of his wife, he had to contend with three friends who assumed the worst in their assessment of Job’s character. Job must have sinned against God, they concluded, that was why he was in that pitiful state. They chided him and admonished him and tormented him with their unending barrage of accusations that spanned 28 of the 42 chapters of the book. Job had to defend his integrity before his three friends. He was discouraged, disappointed and distressed. His friends were miserable comforters. Their vain words caused Job much grief and tears. If his friends had given him the benefit of the doubt and not accused him wrongly, they would have comforted Job in the most trying time of his life.

Truly, we cannot read hearts and do not have full knowledge to assess a person’s intentions. Therefore, to jump to conclusion, pass judgment or become suspicious of one’s motive would surely be uncharitable. Biblical love overcomes the tendency to look at others in a bad light. It gives the right hand of trust. This is God’s grace emanating in the believer’s life. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Such charity inspires and encourages reciprocity. It enhances relationships. Whether it is between husband and wife, parents and children, employer and employee, teacher and student, friend with friend, trust begets trust. How often relationships are marred when we begin to become suspicious and recall old scores and begin nit-picking. In Christian communities, such charity needs abound as a witness to the saving grace of Christ in our hearts. When this biblical grace is exercised, it removes friction which can retard the work of brothers and sisters-in-Christ armed with the gospel mandate.

Charity believes all things. It is an all-encompassing trust that helps us to weather the vicissitudes of life. What if that trust is broken? Job had to first forgive his three friends before God would restore him. He prayed for them and the culmination of Job’s trial was his restoration as mentioned in Job 42:10, “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

May the Lord open our spiritual eyes to the importance of this grace and help us to have victory in our relationships one with another. Amen.

Yours lovingly
Pr Lek Aik Wee