I just listened to Larnell Harris sing His Eye is on the Sparrow.
The backdrop was not modern, neither is the song. However, the message is
poignant at this time when so many persons are in fear.
I’ll allow Civilla Martin who wrote the song, to tell
her own story. “Early in
the spring of 1905, my husband and I were holidaying in Elmira, New York. We
developed a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle.
Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for almost 20 years. Her husband was an
incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a
wheelchair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives,
bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them.
One
day, while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their
bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply
was simple: ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.’ The beauty
of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped our hearts and fired our
imagination. The song ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow’ was the outcome of that
experience.”
In
other words, Mrs Doolittle knew her vulnerability and acknowledged God’s care
for her in her bedridden condition. She and her crippled husband were
susceptible to depression. For decades they lived against insurmountable odds.
However, they were confident that as the Lord cared for the sparrow, he cared
for them even more.
Song
writer Civilla Martin knew the context from which Mrs Doolittle referred to
God’s care for vulnerable sparrows. She was quoting Jesus, “Look at the birds
of the air; they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they” (Matthew
6:26)?
Later
in Matthew, the writer again quotes Jesus: “Are not two sparrows sold for a
penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your
Father…you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).
In
both passages, Jesus is not attempting to give a lecture in Ornithology (study
of birds). As the context would suggest, Jesus was commenting on how we respond
in the most vulnerable of circumstances. Jesus was commenting on the fears we
develop when our circumstances appear to be overwhelming.
To
illustrate his point, Jesus chose the sparrow. Sparrows are small birds. They
are found in great numbers. They are tame, intrusive, and nestle everywhere.
Sparrows are rarely referred to in the singular. Each one is of such little
value, sparrows are often referred to in the plural. The Greek word used to
describe the value of two sparrows is equal to one tenth of an average day’s
pay in the first century.
I
don’t know about you, these days I feel like a sparrow. The global pillars of
stability are shaking. Leaders who touted globalism, now want to secure their
borders. Political leaders who are revered as the most powerful on earth, are
succumbing to tests to ensure that they are not victims to coronavirus
(COVID-19). Suddenly, persons in houses of safety are as vulnerable as the
homeless.
To
whom do we turn when Wall Street totters? To whom do we listen to when the
voices of socialism and capitalism are silenced? Like the Apostle Paul, I ask,
“Where are the wise men? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this
age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world” (1 Corinthians 1:20)?
Like
the sparrow, let us acknowledge our vulnerability. Let us affirm the caring eye
of the Lord. His eyes are eyes of compassion. Eyes of assurance that confirm, He
never loses control when crises rage around us. Each of us should at least
peruse the song, and like me, listen to Larnell Harris’ rendition of it.
Why should I
feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; (repeat line)
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; (repeat line)
I sing
because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
“Let not
your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; (repeat line)
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; (repeat line)
Whenever I
am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; (repeat line)
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; (repeat line)
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