Immortal, invisible, God only wise

1
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.
2
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.
3
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 nought changeth Thee.
4
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of 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.
5
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.
373
Oluwatoyin Oke

Lino Lakes, MN, United States

This song continue to be powerful and new each time I sing it. Thank God for inspiration.


Tim

South Bend, Indiana, United States

Simple examination of this wonderful old hymn will reveal that almost THIRTY attributes of God are specifically mentioned or alluded to in only Four short verses! By contrast, the pronouns "I", "ME, and "MY" do not appear at all in this hymn. Hymns, by definition, are songs of praise, and this song of praise is consumed with extolling the great God of all.

"There is a lot of good Christian music being produced and sung these days. And, there is a lot, maybe even more that is passed off as "Christian". I wonder what might happen if we took more time to prayerfully, honestly examine the songs we sing. Do they focus on "I", "ME, and "MY"? Or do they focus on HIM? Do they lead us into the depths and the richness and to the fullness of our Great God and to the glory of His Son, The Christ, our LORD and Savior ?

If our worship music appears to focus on Him. Is that "worship", a deeply emotional experience, one that is induced in us by beautiful music, by words sung over and over like a hypnotic mantra?

Or does our worship well up and spring forth from our hearts because we know from experience, the truth of Scripture, because His Holy Spirit has guided us in the light of His word into an intimate relationship with HIM, because HE has shed His light and His love abroad in our hearts until we no longer cry out merely for closeness, but our mouths can not be stopped, because our hearts overflow with expression after expression that declare HIS EXCELLENT GREATNESS?


Lewis Staples

Paoli, Pennsylvania, United States

I was fortunate that my parents sent me many years ago to The Episcopal Academy near Philadelphia. We had chapel every day of the school year and this hymn was often sung.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about our mortality and I immediately thought of the words:

"We blossom and flourish like leaves on a tree

Then wither and perish, but nought changeth thee"

Sublime!


Pedro Manuwa

Nigeria

Thanks be to GOD for this song.


Chizoma

Nigeria

It’s so refreshing and delighting to sing this song. Reminding us God’s glory. God bless whosever that put this song here.


Gil Moreno

Mesa, Arizona, United States

From Spurgeon:

My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in the ceaseless song of Zion’s temple, thou too art a constant debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity, never faileth. God’s praise is constant in heaven, which is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practise the eternal hallelujah.


Rice Matthew

Moscow, ID, United States

Was exhorted by that blessed saint Charles Spurgeon in his evening devotional to end the day with worshipful music and this hymn came to mind. We have a great and wonderful God!


Effiong Vera

Igando, Lagos State, Nigeria

So joyful I find the hymn here and the lyrics my favorite hymn way back in secondary school. Am so delighted.

God bless the soul that makes this work out for me.

Thanks.


Charmaine Tavares

Far-Rockaway, N'Y, United States

Long time I haven't heard this song now I find myself just humming it I forget the words so I I went on Google the words . just wonderful just simply wonderful, listen to the words great father of glory, pure father of light. Thine angels adore thee all veiling their site, to all thou life givest to both great and small.


Gloria

Owerri, IMO State

God bless whoever put this in piano and guitar form as well as the lyrics. I am very delighted to see this hymn. Its a blessing. My soul has been lifted.

Piano Hymns