In 1 Timothy 1:17 we read, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
So often, God will inspire a hymn writer when they are reading the Bible. That is exactly what God did when Walter Smith read that verse from 1 Timothy. Some have said that they cannot see God nor hear Him. From experience, many others will share how they saw God in creation and heard Him speak through His word…the Bible. When you take time to be still and think about God, you begin to know who God is and you begin to know His truth.
In 1874, Walter Smith became pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Edinburgh. Two years into his pastorate he published a collection of hymns. It was in this collection that the world was introduced to his hymn, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE. Although, the first writing included 6 stanzas, our version today includes the first three stanzas and a fourth one made up of parts of the discarded verses. During still moments, know God who is immortal, wise and even though not visible to the human eye, very present!