Now to the King…

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Timothy 1.17

Our King:

Eternal

Immortal

Invisible

Our God who alone is wise

When Paul writes these words we get the sense that he can’t quite capture all that he is trying to say.  He was stressing to his young son in the faith the importance of having a right view of God because if we don't have a right view of God it is impossible to bring Him the honour and glory He is due.

Our God is eternal. He always has been and always will be.

He is immortal. No one can kill Him off or get rid of Him no matter how hard the try. The best efforts of man to ignore Him or wipe Him out are futile.

He is invisible. We are told to stop focusing on the visible stuff because it is all going to fade away. Only the invisible endures forever.

He is the All-Wise God. As smart or wise or intellectual or learned as man becomes he will never match up to the All-Wise God.

And because of all that He alone is due our honour, and He is due it forever and ever and ever.

I simply don't have the words, but I think Walter Charles Smith comes close to capturing the spirit of this wonderful verse in his 19^th  century hymn.

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.

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.

           

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.

Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light;

thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

all laud we would render:  O help us to see

'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.