Take My Life and Let It Be, part 2
With most hymns, as if in a cavernous underground grotto, we hear the deep echoes of Scripture. It’s no different with this one.
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
The first line reminds us of how Hannah consecrated Samuel to the Lord. “For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” -1Sam1:28
The mention of “ceaseless praise” echoes the command to “give thanks in all circumstances” -1Thess5:18
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
This wonderful line combines two Scripture passages that bring to mind the readiness by which we ought to share the good news.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news” –Isa 52:7
And Paul’s instruction to have our “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” -Eph 6:15
The petition is that we would be ever ready, swift in obedience in the sharing of the gospel, for those who bring the good news are indeed beautiful in God’s eyes.
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
When we sing this, it should flood our hearts with the image of the poor widow of Luke 21, who made an offering of two small coins. A “mite” is an old Engilsh word for a small coin of little value. So the King James Version reads “two mites”. As the widow did not withhold all she had, the petition is that I would not hesitate to do likewise: “not a mite would I withhold.”
The last stanza:
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.
The “sinful woman” of Luke 7 was the one who wet Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Think of how deeply a poignant moment this is in Scripture, a moment preserved in these beautiful lines of devotion.
Finally, the conclusion and repetition of “ever, only”. These words are words of jealousy. And how wonderfully appropriate. Our jealous response is the right response to God’s jealous love for us(Ex 34:14).
Take my life Lord, may it indeed be “ever and only all for Thee”.
(There are more subtle references to Scripture. Feel free to comment and encourage)
I am usually opposed(strongly!) to any altering of the original musical arrangement, but in this case I could not help but fall in love with this moving rendition, and performed well by a young choir:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrOfhCy6aVg
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.
