Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;

Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready, my God, Thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Clara H. Scott (1895) (1841-1897)

There are hymns and songs one sang upon a time in one’s youth that have been long silenced in the depth of the spirit, until a spark arises in the heart by the Spirit of God, in a moment of quiet contemplation in the Presence of the Lord, and you begin to sing it anew and your spirit revives as though visiting with an old friend.

Such is the hymn written by Clara H Scott in 1895, two years before her passing. The Psalmist first wrote the thought, no doubt planting the seed for the later song to be birthed and sung by a thousand tongues in congregations everywhere:

“Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law” (Psalms 119:18).

It is a cry of the solitary heart to God to see more, to know more, to taste more of His wondrous love and grace. There is in this heart a readiness of spirit and desire to see His will anew, for in that renewal there is freedom, there is liberty and an effervescent joy.

This was, indeed, the deep desire of the Apostle, and not just for himself, but as it was laid upon him by the Lord at his conversion:

“But rise, and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness, both of these things in the which I will appear unto you; delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you: to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in Me” (Acts26:16-18–Paul before King Agrippa at Caesarea).

As we see from our text, this too is the great desire of the Lord. Indeed, that our eyes are opened to the truth, and spiritual blindness be taken away and we see clearly into His Word and see Him in His glory.

“Then Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor the Gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).

When the desire of the saint and the desire of the Lord intersect, hearts are joined in union and the blessings of revelation, and wisdom and knowledge flow; eyes are opened, and the glorious mysteries of Christ are revealed. This was the great desire of the Apostle for the saints as he wrote in his Epistle to the Church at Ephesus:

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling; and what are the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the Saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18).

In this season, in this time of new beginnings, “seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Wait upon Him in quiet contemplation in the solitude of your heart:

Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit, Divine!

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