Many of the Bible’s most lofty doctrines, which could be expounded in lengthy sermon series and substantial theological volumes, can also be expressed in simple texts that even a child can embrace and appreciate. God’s providential care is one of the greatest and most uplifting teachings in the Word of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes it well in the answer to question number 11. “God’s works of providence are His most holy wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.”
The greatest promise for a believer is that he or she can know that all their sins are forgiven and that they can be sure of an eternity in the glorious presence of the Lord in the new heavens and earth. Probably the second greatest promise for a believer is that he or she can go through this life in a fallen world with the comforting knowledge that the Lord is not only present but is in absolute control. This doctrine of providence sustains us in times of suffering and pain, through experiences of loss and opposition, and when the world around us seems to be falling apart. Whatever trouble we face at any given moment, we have the assurance that the God whose eye is on sparrows certainly has His eye on us, and is working out His perfect plan.
When it comes to providence, even more simple than the Shorter Catechism definition (yet still profound) is the gospel song, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” It was written in 1905 by Civilla Durfree Martin (1866-1948), a native of Nova Scotia who died in Atlanta. In this song she has provided one of the most influential and often-recorded gospel hymns of the 20th century. It became especially associated with actress-singer Ethel Waters (1896-1977) who loved it so much that it became the title of her 1950 autobiography. Civilla is also remembered and much-appreciated for her song “Be Not Dismayed … God Will Take Care of You.”
Civilla’s husband, Walter Stillman Martin, was a Baptist minister who received his education at Harvard. He later became a member of the Disciples of Christ, teaching at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, North Carolina, before moving to Atlanta in 1919, a location that became the base for revivals that he held throughout the U.S. Remember that these were the days of revival meetings by men like Dwight Moody and Billy Sunday, a couple of generations before Billy Graham.
“His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was obviously inspired by Matthew 6:26: “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?” Later in Matthew 10:29-31, the Gospel writer continues on this theme: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Similar thoughts are cited in the parallel passage in Luke 12:6-7. When writing the lyrics, Civilla also quoted John 14:1 in the first line of the second stanza. “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
There is, in philosophy, what is known as an “a fortiori” argument. The Latin phrase means “with even stronger reason.” The argument goes like this: If “A” is true, then it stands to reason that “B” is even more certainly true. That syllogism is used a number of times in the Bible, and it comes into play twice in the verses above. Since God keeps His eye on each tiny, insignificant sparrow, it is surely even more certain that He will watch over each of His blood-bought children, human beings of whom the Bible says: “You [Lord] have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands” (Hebrews 2:7). We are assured that “the very hairs of [our] head[s] are all numbered.” And there again is an “a fortiori” argument. Since God is concerned about the hairs of our head, surely He’s interested in what happens to the rest of us, not only for time, but for all eternity!
In 1916, Civilla Martin herself described the context out of which the hymn was born.
Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty 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 response was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.
Civilla and Walter were dissatisfied with their own attempts to add music to the lyrics, so they sent the lyrics to Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856-1932), a well-known writer of gospel songs. He is said to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, many of which are still found in 21st century hymnals. He was born in Wilton, Iowa and raised on a farm. His father led singing schools in their home, and young Charles developed an interest in music. It is said that he taught himself to play the family’s reed organ. Even though he never had any formal training in music, he began to travel and lead his own shape-note singing schools in various locations around the age of 17.
His musical talent was well recognized in his boyhood home of Wilton. There is one folklore story, that the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilton (Pastor Pollock or McAulay) once saw Gabriel walking in town early in the week. He asked Gabriel if he knew a good song to go along with his sermon. The pastor shared the sermon topic and by the end of the week the boy had written a song for that Sunday, words and music. The Rev. N. A. McAulay was a pastor at the Wilton church for many years, and it is also said that young Gabriel wrote the music for one of McAulay’s songs. The song, “How Could it Be,” was later published in “Songs for Service,” edited by Gabriel.
Gabriel himself wrote this about composing the music for “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”
One evening . . . while in a despondent, down-hearted mood, I was glancing over some song-words; none seemed to appeal to me. Presently I remembered having received a hymn in the day’s mail which I had not as yet looked at. Taking it from my pocket it seemed like a voice speaking directly to me as I read, and its melody rang out of silence into my heart exactly as it is sung today. I wrote it out, and in a letter to Mr. Alexander the next day, I mailed it to England where, in Albert Hall, “The Sparrow Song” was first sung in public.
Eventually he served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco, California (1890-1892). While working at Grace Church, he was asked to write a song for a mission celebration. He wrote “Send the Light,” which became his first commercial song. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, and in 1912 he began working with Homer Rodeheaver’s publishing company. Gabriel was married twice, first to Fannie Woodhouse, which ended in divorce, and later to Amelia Moore. One child was born to each marriage.He died in Hollywood, California at the age of 76. Gabriel wrote an autobiography titled “Sixty Years of Gospel Song,” published by Hope Publishing Company. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1982.
Stanza 1 begins with a question. It is similar to what we read in Psalms 42 and 43, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Certainly, one of the reasons this song has become so beloved is because such times are very real for every one of us. Discouragement, shadows, loneliness, and longing for heaven are not strangers to us. And don’t we all know what it’s like to “long for heaven and home!” But this stanza, like the Psalms, has the remedy. In the Psalm we read, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In this hymn, the answer is spelled out even more specifically. Jesus is our portion and our “constant friend.” We are never abandoned by our Redeemer, even in those times when we may not feel His presence or know His purpose. The result is that even while the difficulties remain, we can sing in happiness and freedom. That’s what Paul and Silas did that night in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:25).
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
(refrain)
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.
Stanza 2 gives us great hope, as we sing the very words Jesus spoke to the disciples in the Upper Room at a time when they were so very distressed, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Believing that the word of God is actually God speaking, we need to read Scripture as if God is actually speaking to us at that moment. When we do that here, with John 14 in mind, our hearts should hear Jesus reassuring us with His tender words. He’s promising that we can rest in His goodness, lose our doubts and fears (however strong they might have been up to that moment), and proceed in the confidence that He will be leading us (think Psalm 23 here) one step at a time. Once again, we sing here that the God who cares about tiny sparrows certainly cares about His elect and beloved children.
“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;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
(refrain)
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.
Stanza 3 reveals another dimension of our challenge. Here it is with the imagery of a storm, “whenever clouds arise.” We have already had the words in the repeated refrain about singing, but there will be times “when songs give place to sighing.” When that happens, we should be sensitive to the possibility that such anxiety is not merely coming from our creaturely weakness. It may also be a temptation from the tempter from hell. Even though we have Biblical promises, these situations can shake our hope, even to the point of hope seeming to die. But the biblical path to restoration of hope is to draw close to the Savior whose loving arms (and heart) are open to us. What we find will be increasing freedom from our cares. How wonderful to have that very promise in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.”
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;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
(refrain)
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.
Here is a link to the song (just the first stanza and refrain) as sung by Ethel Waters at a Billy Graham crusade back in 1975, recalling in her testimony how she had come to Jesus at the Madison Square gospel meeting 18 years earlier.