George-Matheson

Some of the people who have impacted me the most in this life are those who have already passed from it.

The preachers and writers of old have recorded deep thoughts about God that still echo through the generations and continue to proceed from their grave. One of those men is George Matheson, otherwise known as “The Blind Preacher.”

In 1842 George and Jane Matheson had a child and named him George, obviously and proudly, after his father. His mother was the second cousin to his father, and they both resided in Glasgow, Scotland at the time George, their firstborn child, was birthed. He was the first of eight children, but the only one of his siblings who was born with poor eyesight.

Though his vision was blurry, his dreams for his future never seemed to be unclear. Through his growing-up years, he flourished in his education at Glasgow Academy and then pursued greater study at Glasgow University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1861 with an emphasis on philosophy that would surely shed light on the writing he would do in his future. In 1862, only one year after finishing his Bachelors, he attained a Masters in philosophy as well.

While studying in school he would use powerful glasses to be able to see his work, and in-class would get the seat closest to the window for the best light. It was not long after he finished his studies until his poor sight drove him to become dependent upon others to accomplish almost anything. He was never completely blind, but he could only see shadows or outlines after finishing school.

In light of his ailment of poor sight, he had a reputation of being joyful, with a great spirit about him that was not easily discouraged. He didn’t speak of his bad eyesight, and most people who observed him preach or go about his life did not even know he was blind. There was only a short period where he seemed to struggle with great discouragement over his lack of eyesight, but it did not seem to stall him for long.

There are some allusions of a young woman who was in his life. He hoped to marry her, but she refused because he was mostly blind. Though we don’t know much about their relationship, if this is in fact true, it is not too much to fathom that this discouraged Matheson about his condition.

One of the great helps to overcoming his loneliness and accomplishing so much were his sisters. His eldest sister stuck by his side for years, helping him around the house and taking the time to write his dictations for him, including his early sermons. She also assisted with running the Parish at which Matheson served.

He was first licensed as a minister while serving at Sandyford by the presbytery. Here he assisted the lead minister, Dr. Macduff. The congregation was always impressed by what he could get done even with poor vision. He was only at Sandyford for a short while until he was granted more responsibility and given the opportunity to be the lead minister at Innellan.

In Innellan, Matheson’s popularity grew and he was soon a very famous preacher. His name was known throughout Scotland. People would travel from afar, especially around the religious holidays, to hear “Matheson of Innellan,” as he was commonly called.  Those who heard him preach did not know he was blind because it appeared as if he was regularly looking down at his notes. Obviously, Matheson’s greatest tool in the pulpit was not his writing or his notes, but his memory. His memory enabled him to remember his sermon along with large portions of Scripture.

Matheson served as pastor for 18 years in Innellan. In 1879 he was invited to move to London to minister there, but he declined (this would have been the same time that Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The prince of preachers” was ministering in London – however it is unknown if Matheson and Spurgeon ever connected). In 1886 he moved to Edinburgh and became the minister of St. Bernard’s Church for an additional 13 years.

It is also important to note that in 1885 he was invited to come and preach to Queen Victoria by the Queen herself. He delivered a sermon entitled, “The Patience of Job.” The Queen was so moved by the sermon she asked for it to be printed and published for more people to be able to receive.

He was able to write many articles and books in his lifetime, some with the help of his sister, others with the help of a secretary, and then later in his life by using Braille and a typewriter.

Perhaps one of the greatest pieces Matheson ever wrote was a simple hymn, which he wrote on the night his sister was wed. His sister, the one he was so dependent upon, and who was a very special person to him, was starting a new chapter of her life. Her marriage would have filled him with deep emotion and an extra need for dependence upon God.

The hymn Matheson wrote on his sister’s wedding night was entitled, “O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go.” When he later wrote about the hymn’s conception, he recounted the following:

My hymn was composed in the manse of Innellan [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high.

It is obvious that this was a special time of manifestation of the Holy Spirit for Matheson as he recorded the words that seemed to be ‘dictated to him’ and were not his own. It was an overflow from the ‘dayspring on high’ and not merely his own trickling thoughts.

The severe mental suffering that he was experiencing that night is not told to us. However, the curious person can only wonder if it was the loss of his sister to marriage that was causing him such pain. Yet another option could be that he was greatly saddened by the wedding because it recounted to him the love he desired to have with a woman in his earlier years that never came to be. Though we do not know the cause of his distress, we can be certain by the outpouring of the hymn that he was comforted greatly by His Savior.

His first draft was his final draft, and that alone was shocking to him and seemed to verify the inspiration of God in the midst of this song’s creation. The only time noted of him changing the hymn was when it was first published in a hymnbook. The Hymn Committee asked him to change the word “climbed” to the word “traced” in the third verse; “I traced the rainbow through the rain.” He willingly did so without complaint.

Matheson was not a musician himself, though he wrote at least ten published hymns. He credits Dr. Albert Peace with writing the music for this special hymn. Each line of the hymn carries a deep theological thought that propels the listener to a deeper contemplation of God’s greater love and purposes than this life can offer. The words are as follows:

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

 In the first verse, Matheson captures the greatness that only comes from giving your life over to Christ (Matthew 10:39). On our own efforts, this life will be fleeting and produce nothing more than a weary and worn-down soul. Yet, a life that is given to Christ will experience a washing over by the depths of God’s love of which we cannot fathom (Ephesians 3:18), and will yield a life consumed by the very Creator and Redeemer of it.

We may try to shine a light by raising our own torch of hope, as surely Matheson had done as a minister. However, our flame is nothing more than a candle’s flicker in comparison to the Sun’s rays; the only way to bring true light to the darkness is to allow God’s glory to be reflected (or ‘borrowed’) in our life.

The rainbow is one of God’s greatest signs of joy and promises contained in the Bible. Surely Noah, and even God Himself, would have felt great sorrow after the flood. The rainbow stood as a promise to be traced back to God’s deep-seated joy of deliverance.

Finally, and most profoundly, it is the Cross of Christ that lifts our downcast head with eternal hope. When we lay life’s glory in the dust, it is there that we find the crimson blood of our Savior. Our abandonment of life’s dirt mixed with Christ’s seed of redemption blossoms a life of eternal joy, love, glory and forgiveness.

Mathenson’s impact on the world is to be noted; not because of his great writing, preaching or ability to overcome his limitations. Rather, his impact came when he realized that the greatest gift he could give the world was his own intimacy with Christ.

Imagine how the world might be different if you and I understood this as well. There is no telling the impact one can have on the world when he or she understand that it is not the world that should be their focus, but the Creator and Redeemer of it.

19 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for this beautiful biography. I discovered this author of my longtime most favorite hymn when reading The One Year Book of Hymns. Your summary here is the best I’ve found online so I can easily share it with others, which I will do.

  2. Thank you for giving such beautiful testamony into his life. I came across his writing today in my devotional: Streams in the Desert True for all of us, the greatest gift we can give the world is our intimacy with Christ. Very timely for me.
    In appreciation. Karen Krosting

  3. I also find the people who impact me the most are with the Lord. Those people really knew Christ . Streams in the Desert is inspirational

  4. Today, Feb. 24 I read an article by George Matheson in Streams in the Desert, and decided to look up his story and I appreciate your biography. I knew he was blind but nothing of his life. Thank you – it is a good kick to self pity!

  5. I read “Streams in the Desert” every day. It is my go to for inspiration. I enjoyed reading
    your biography about George Matheson. What an amazing teacher of God’s greatness that “transcends all understanding”. Since George Matheson’s death 114 years ago, so many changes have taken place on this planet. From the grave, he still has the power to lead us in praising our Lord. We are so blessed for that.

  6. I shared the reading for March 27 with my brother. He responded “this sounds like George Matheson, he wrote O LoveThat Will Not let me Go.
    I realized he was relating to March 27!
    I googled the name and I’m not the same.I was led eventually to Feb.24.
    …His(our)mission-Be a witness to
    The Light!!!Be that VOICE
    Thanks for this opportunity to SEE how the Light had been shining and is needed. Share The Light
    You never know who is SEARCHING
    Great timing

  7. George Matheson, as distant Abel, though he is dead, still speaks to us the profound truth of a life surrendered and lived to Christ. Deep calls to deep as I read his words in Streams and I am always encouraged and inspired as seeing the unseen world through the soul of one esteemed and now living in heaven’s embrace. Where are the George MacDonalds, the George Muellers and the George Mathesons of this age? Thank you for publishing this brief history of this wonderful man of faith.

  8. I, too read Streams in the Desert which led me to this uplifting article. My copy of SitD came from my husband’s step great grandmother, also with the Lord and a great woman of faith. How thankful I am for the inspiration from those who walked this path before, who remind us to keep on through life’s difficulties. Knowing Jesus makes all the difference! Thank you

  9. At our prayer service tonite the pastor mention the name George Matheson great Scottish preacher who was going blind during his ministry , I wrote it down so I could remember when I got home ,to look it up,,, it intrested me because l am 90yrs old and have macular degeneration Ai see blurry and
    They say there is nothing can be done ,I get a shot in the eye once a month I have been with my Lord Jesus for 60 yrs ,I preach in rescue mission and jail and witness to all that the Lord sends to me. I was so bless by reading brother Matheson,s bio and the Holy Spirit wash my eyes , i had to stop and praise Jesus for saving me and keeping me. Thank you Josh for posting his bio I will try and read everything George wrote

    • Thank you so much Joseph for what you’ve done for people in prisons and rescue missions… I have a very strong feeling you will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

      “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

      “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
      Matthew 25:37‭-‬40

  10. Hi Josh!
    I stumbled on your blog while reading about George Matheson. Our daughter and family, the Ficklins, we’re members of Grace for many years and my husband and I have heard you preach numerous times, even joining online during the pandemic. They are now seving full time in Southeast Asia, experiencing God’s great faithfulness.
    Thank you for your perseverance for the Gospel.

  11. Here I am doing my Devotion for today and came across this name George Matheson, so I Google it and I am happy I did because this song ‘ Oh Love that will not let me go ‘ is one of my favorite Hymns.and getting to know the background of this hymn is so amazing, thank you for the information .

  12. I came across this beautiful hymn one Remembrance Day service in my local church. I had never come across it before and was quite carried away by it. At the time I was writing my first novel partly based on the First World War, and immediately appreciated how appropriate the words were, and copied them down. I now have them on the title page of the manuscript. No, the book has not reached the publishers yet, but I am hoping that one day in the not too distance future it will. What an amazing man George Matheson was. I have been so impressed by the amount of information on him. Thank you for sharing it with us.

  13. Streams in the Desert also has had a great positive and inspiring impact on my life and journey with Christ. I turn to April 8th and May 8th

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