Three months ago we began a three step journey through the words of a hymn written more than 1200 years ago. We examined the idea that God is our vision, our wisdom and our protector (buckler). Now, as we bring this old hymn to a close we’ll consider in detail the final two verses. But while we once sang our praise of His work in our lives, now as we ‘sing’ proclaim our loyalty! A two-lined statement that provides a pledge as to what we will do in regard to living for our God. Notice as we sing…
“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise; Thou my inheritance, now and always! Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.”
If we don’t establish that God is first in our lives, our praise will be empty. If we haven’t established Him as the treasure of our hearts, how can we expect an inheritance. Jehovah God and Him alone should be first in our hearts, our lives. But how do you do that? What steps do you take to make Him, and Him only first in your heart? My admonish would be to consider what you think is most important in this life. What will you cherish and as treasure in life? If it’s not God and His word, you have something else that you are treasuring.
The fifth and final verse continues the praise and recognition of God’s reign in our hearts. Notice as we sing to the “High King of Heaven…”
“High King of heaven, when victory is won, May I reach heaven’s joy, O bright heaven’s sun! Heart of my heart, whatever be fall, still be my vision, O ruler of all.”
Concluding this hymn we make a declaration for our future. When life is over and we face judgment, we can have the confidence to know that the ‘victory is won.’ The joy of heaven and the ‘bright heaven’s sun’ reflect the words of John in Revelation 21, “And the city (heaven) has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and it’s lamp is the Lamb.” But consider the term ‘heart of my heart,’ what does that mean? Often used in poetry, this term is simply saying, ‘from the core of my heart.’ It’s a proclamation that my belief, my hope comes from the depths of my heart. Therefore we sing that no matter what happens in this life, God will always be my focus. And I know that in the core of my heart (heart of my heart) God will always be my life, my focus, my vision!