George Herbert is the author of the hymn ‘Teach me, my God and King’ (no.668 in Singing the Faith)
Teach me, my God and King, In all things Thee to see;
And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee !
A man that looks on glass, On it may stay his eye;
Or, if he pleaseth, through it pass, And then the heaven espy.
All may of Thee partake; Nothing can be so mean,
Which, with this tincture, (for Thy sake), Will not grow bright and clean.
A servant with this clause, Makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room , as for Thy laws, Makes that and the action fine.
This is the famous stone, That turneth all to gold;
For that which God doth touch and own, Cannot for less be told.
George Herbert (born 1593) was a popular young man at King James’ court . A bright future awaited him, everyone thought. When he announced that he intended to become a country parson, his friends were not a little nonplussed, taken aback. This was far from what they expected.
After ordination he was given the living of Benerton, near Salisbury, in Somerset and devoted himself wholeheartedly to his work as a country parson.
He found his church and rectory in very poor condition.
While inspecting the properties, he met his first parishioner, an old lady who was in an equally poor state. Without hesitating this young parson put his arms around the ragged shoulder and led her to a seat. He spoke to her gently and she, trusting his gentleness and concern, opened her heart with all her troubles.
After some time, he let her go on her way with a little money. She blessed him for his kindness.
George Herbert did not survive long as priest (his health was never robust) and he died in 1633, having left a rich legacy of poems, many becoming hymns.
He will always be remembered as ‘saintly George Herbert’.
Read the hymn again ‘Teach me, my God and King…’ and see that it is in the common, everyday tasks of life, even the most mundane, that can bring glory to God in and through your life, every bit as much as joining with a choir of the saints in singing the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ !
Prayer Help me, O Lord, to see that I may serve you in the humblest of ways.
In Jesus’ name. Amen