Come, Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire
Come, Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire
Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire,
Let us Thine influence prove:
Source of the old prophetic fire,
Fountain of life and love.
Come, Holy Ghost, for moved by Thee
The prophets wrote and spoke;
Unlock the truth, Thyself the key,
Unseal the sacred book.
Expand Thy wings, celestial Dove,
Brood o’er our nature’s night;
On our disordered spirits move,
And let there now be light.
God, through Himself, we then shall know
If Thou within us shine,
And sound with all Thy saints below,
The depths of love divine.
THIS HYMN uses two Scripture passages: the very first biblical reference to the Holy Spirit and one of the last. In Genesis 1:2, we find the Spirit involved in creation, “hovering over the surface of the waters.” Toward the end of the New Testament, 2 Peter 1:19-21 urges readers to pay attention to the word of the prophets, “for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place.” The prophets, Peter says, were not just making this stuff up. No, they were “moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”
As usual, Charles Wesley has woven solid theology into his hymn. The Spirit brings order out of our chaos. He shines light into our dark places. He often does this through the Scriptures. He unlocks the truth spoken by the ancient prophets so it makes sense in modern times.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
From the book
