Be Now My Wisdom

Notes from Tom

Another old tune with new words. The tune is SLANE, the Irish melody most people know as "Be Thou My Vision." The old prayer asks God to be our vision. This one asks Him to be our wisdom.

The tune: a hill, a fire, and a folk song

SLANE is named for the Hill of Slane in County Meath, Ireland. The story goes that in the year 433, on the night before Easter, St. Patrick lit a fire on that hill in defiance of the High King, who had ordered that no fire be lit before his own pagan festival fire was kindled at Tara. The king's druids warned him that if Patrick's fire wasn't put out that night, it would never be put out. They were right.

The melody is a traditional Irish folk tune. It was first written down in 1909 in Patrick Joyce's Old Irish Folk Music and Songs, attached to a secular song called "With My Love on the Road." In 1919 an Irish hymnal paired it with an English translation of an ancient Irish prayer, "Rop tú mo baile," attributed to the sixth-century poet Dallán Forgaill. In English it became "Be Thou My Vision," and the tune and the words have been inseparable ever since. The same melody also carries "Lord of All Hopefulness."

The words

This is a prayer for wisdom, and every verse comes out of Scripture.

Verse 1 is James 1:5. If anyone lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously. Behind it are Proverbs 3:5–7, lean not on your own understanding and be not wise in your own eyes, and Psalm 119:105, Your Word is a lamp to my feet.

Verse 2 is 1 Corinthians 1:18–25. The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. Where is the wise man? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? The foolishness of God is wiser than men. The cross is where the wisdom is.

Verse 3 is 2 Corinthians 5:7, we walk by faith and not by sight, and Isaiah 55:8–9, My thoughts are not your thoughts. We want answers now. Sometimes He leads where we can't see, and the wisdom He gives is free for the asking.

Verse 4 is 1 Corinthians 13:12. Now we see in a mirror dimly, then face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully. Add Matthew 13:43, the righteous will shine like the sun, and Revelation 15:3, just and true are Your ways. What is hidden now will be our praise then.