Saw You Never in the Twilight

Most non-liturgical “free churches” do not observe Epiphany, though they do observe the Christmas and Easter seasons.  But it is a day worth recognizing, since it marks a wonderful historical event in the Gospel record, the first manifestation (from the Greek word, “epiphaneia”) of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the arrival of the Magi. Some churches (especially the Eastern churches) also celebrate Epiphany as the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity at His baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, and His first miracle as He changed water to wine at the wedding feast in Cana in Galilee.

The festival originated in the Eastern church where it at first included a commemoration of Christ’s birth.  In Rome, by 354, Christ’s birth was being celebrated on December 25, and later in the 4th  century the church in Rome began celebrating Epiphany on January 6. In the West the evening preceding Epiphany is called Twelfth Night, with the time between December 25 and January 6 known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Epiphany is celebrated with special pastries in many countries, and children often receive small gifts in their shoes in honor of the Magi’s gifts to the infant Jesus. The holiday also has a number of traditions involving water as a reflection of Jesus’ baptism, including the blessing of houses with holy water. 

For evangelical Protestants, Epiphany can be a celebration of the Magi’s worship of the infant Savior, marking the wonderful fact that the gospel is for all the nations, not just Israel, just as God had promised 2,000 years earlier to Abraham.  He had told this patriarch that through him, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18).  We see that taking place as these Magi from the east came to kneel before the infant Son of God.  Scripture tells us that they followed the light of a star to find the place where the Savior lay.  How did know about this?  Some have suggested that the prophecies of Daniel six centuries earlier in Babylon (and then Persia) had been passed down through the years.

We customarily see manger scenes in print or in crèches on tables, scenes which include Mary and Joseph and the baby, along with the shepherds and sheep, and also the three wise men in their splendid attire, holding their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  But it is most likely that they were not at the manger, but rather arrived as much as two years later.  That’s how long it may have taken them to make the journey from the east (Persia?).  And Matthew 2:11 records that they came to a house, not to the manger.  This time frame would fit the circumstances of Herod ordering the slaughter of baby boys under two years of age (Matthew 2:16-18).

The popular song, “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” is without biblical foundation.  Scripture only tells us there were three gifts, not that there were three men.  And nothing is said in the Bible about them being kings, nor that they came from the orient.  But they were definitely wise, as we see that the symbolic meaning behind their gifts does warrant thoughtful consideration, since it is quite clear that they were not chosen at random.  As a king, Jesus was honored with the gold of royalty.  As God, Jesus was honored with the frankincense of prayer to a deity.  As the sacrifice who would die for our sins, Jesus was honored with the myrrh typical in embalming after death.  And what was done with those valuable gifts?  Many have suggested they may have been sold to provide the funds needed to support them during their sojourn in Egypt until they could return to Nazareth after Herod’s death.

One of the best hymns for Epiphany is “Saw You Never in the Twilight.”  Composed in 1853, it is one of the many hymns for children written by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895).  She was especially gifted in poetry, and is represented in most hymnals by at least these three: “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” “There Is a Green Hill Far Away,” and “Once in Royal David’s City,” as well as her rendering of “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.”  She was influenced by the Oxford Movement and the Anglo-Catholic spirit, particularly by John Keble, who edited “Hymns for Little Children,” one of her anthologies.  She began writing verse in her childhood, and many of her hymn texts were written for children.  By the 1840s she was already known as a hymn writer, and her compositions were soon included in Church of Ireland hymnbooks

Born in Dublin, at the age of 32 she married William Alexander in 1850.  He became Bishop of Derry and Archbishop of Armagh. In 1833, at the age of 15, she went to live at Milltown House in Strabane, which had been built for her father. While living there, she published a number of Christian books. By the close of the 19th century, one of them, “Hymns for Little Children” reached its 69th edition. She was involved in charitable work for much of her life. Money from her first publications had helped build the Diocesan Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, which was founded in Strabane in 1846. The profits from “Hymns for Little Children” were also donated to the school. She was involved with the Derry Home for Fallen Women, and worked to develop a district nurses service. She was a diligent visitor to poor and sick.

Seven hymns penned by Alexander were included in the 1873 issue of the Church of Ireland Hymnal, and eighteen of her works were contained in 1889 in “A Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern.” She died at the Bishop’s Palace in Derry and was buried in Derry City Cemetery. Her husband is buried beside her.

Cecil Frances Alexander wrote the text for the hymn “Saw You Never in the Twilight” as a series of questions.  Since so many of her hymns were written for children, we might imagine a group of children gathered around as the singer / storyteller tells them the story of the Magi from the Bible, and asks them these questions to get them to think about what all this meant.  Alexander employed her great poetic eloquence to beautifully and creatively describe the scene so that children of all ages, even the elderly with child-like hearts, can visualize and comprehend the story.

Stanza 1 first asks if they have ever seen the stars in the skies at twilight, just after the sun had sunk below the horizon, and noticed how they stood out “through the gloom, like silver eyes?”  Most of the children would answer, “Yes, we have.”  And then the hymn makes the connection with that time long ago when wise men saw a star that was different from any of the others, one that the Magi knew was announcing that the King had come.  That was the one they followed that led them to the manger.

Saw you never, in the twilight, when the sun had left the skies,
up in heav’n the clear stars shining through the gloom, like silver eyes?
So of old the wise men, watching, saw a little stranger star,
and they knew the King was given, and they followed it from far.

Stanza 2 asks if they have ever heard the story before, the biblical story of the Magi.  Once again, Alexander used her vivid imagination to paint the picture for these listening children.  It’s not just the desert, but the “desert wild.”  The lengthy expanse of “plain and mountain” gives them the vision of this lengthy journey.  Then they hear the details of the three gifts, gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And how valuable that her hymn tells the children how these important travelers then knelt before that “infant King,” offering Him their worship.

Heard you never of the story how they crossed the desert wild,
journeyed on by plain and mountain till they found the holy child?
How they opened all their treasure, kneeling to that infant King;
gave the gold and fragrant incense, gave the myrrh in offering?

Stanza 3 asks if they have understood who that “infant King” was.  It wasn’t just that a star led the Magi there.  This baby Himself was actually “the bright and morning Star” to which that star in the heavens was pointing.  We who are adults know that Jesus is “the Light of the World,” the one who has brought the light of life into the world.  Our children need to know that, and to know Him, the one who came to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that He would bring light to the Gentiles (Acts 26:23) and to the islands of spiritual darkness around the world.

Know ye not that lowly baby was the bright and morning Star?
He who came to light the Gentiles and the darkened isles afar?
And we, too, may seek his cradle; there our hearts’ best treasures bring;
love and faith and true devotion for our Savior, God, and King.

The music for the hymn “Saw You Never in the Twilight,” uses the tune CHARTRES, which is a traditional 15th century French melody, arranged by Charles Wood.

Here is a recording of the song as sung so beautifully by the Birmingham, AL Boys Choir.