Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 35
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
Psalm 42:1-2 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
This hymn comes from the height of the Middle Ages, a period of history often scornfully called “The Dark Ages.” The spiritual and moral darkness of the Church reached a new blackness. The institution founded by Christ some 1,000 years prior was for the most part degenerate and corrupt. The moral standards of many of its prominent leaders were characterized utter disgrace and shame.
The author of this hymn is attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153). Bernard was born to a noble family at Fontaine in Burgundy, France; his father was a knight and his mother a person of radiant goodness. At an early age young Bernard showed a bent for piety and scholarship. With his natural charms and talents Bernard had many opportunities open to him for a successful secular life. However, while still in his early twenties, he chose the life of a monk at the monastery of Citeaux.