Are you familiar with the old Lighthouse hymn called “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning?”
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Bill – 99 years old, and I was a sailor in the Navy during World War 2. Perhaps that is part of the reason that the following writing came forth from my hand… because I have lived through many dangerous storms at sea and I know firsthand what the words of this old hymn speak about.
Explanations of events or happenings, for me, are extremely important. For instance, there was a big difference in my Bible understanding once the actions of God the Father were explained in a way I could grasp – the true meaning of God the Father. And I make no apology for the things I have learned, especially the actions of God the Father. It took awhile for my slow understanding to kick in.
I am also a big fan of comparisons in Scripture and in secular life. I’ve done a ton of writing, besides my published book “Socialism Exposed.” In my capacity as a musical artist, I can think of ways to use common events and earthly values to relate to the heavenly. There is so much to life beneath the surface of what we see or hear! Just like there is much below the surface of the ocean waters when we go deeper to take a long look.
Many mornings, upon arising, a tune or a song comes to my mind, even if I must search for the title. I try to find a place and a meaning for my MUSICAL REVERIE (dreamy state of mind involving music).
Just recently, this Hymn has been on my mind, and the song title is: “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.” It was composed by Philip Bliss in 1871 after he heard the great evangelist, D.L. Moody, tell a story about a time when the lower lighthouse lights were out during a storm, and sadly, a vessel crashed on the rocks in the darkness and many lives were lost.
Let The Lower Lights Be Burning
This hymn has 3 verses. Following are the lyrics.
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From His lighthouse evermore
But to us He gives the keeping…
Of the lights along the shore.
Refrain:
Let the Lower Lights be burning!
Send a beam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled
Loud the angry billows roar
Eager eyes are watching, longing
For the lights along the shore.
(Refrain)
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!
Some poor sailor tempest-tossed
Trying now to make the harbor
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the Lower Lights be burning!
Send a beam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
The old lighthouses have a long history, which can be a fascinating exploration for many.
Some had peak shapes, others did not. Others were quite larger than someone might expect.
But all of these old structures were designed for the same purpose – to help weary sailors on ships, where their lives could be threatened by pretty scary and definitely dangerous conditions on the high seas.
The Lighthouse Caretaker
There was always a caretaker for the lighthouse, whether full time or part time. His role became critically important during times of storms and bad weather.
What About the Lighthouse Lights?
Almost all such structures have 2 systems of lights – the Upper lights and the Lower lights. The upper lights were designed to give light much farther out to sea. They were helpful in general, but our song deals with the most important lights – that focused on the area close to shore. In those old days, guidance for any ships was not reliable. Ships sailed many times after dark and most certainly in all kinds of weather. The lights shone brightly on the path that was safe for the ships to travel… even in times of tumultuous weather including fog, rain, snow and wind.
There were lighthouses that were big enough for sleeping room. Then at times when it was daylight, the keeper might not always be present in the lighthouse. Yet when a storm approached (or rose up quickly), his duties at the lighthouse became paramount, and he would hurriedly make his way to the structure to be certain the lights were in working order and could be seen by those in the dark waters.
Explanation of Unusual Wording in the Lighthouse Song
Since this hymn was written in the late 1800s, some verbiage (or wording) is not familiar to us today in our culture. Even our methods of lighting have changed dramatically. Let’s look at some of these meanings to enhance our understanding of the composer’s words.
We’ve already discussed “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” and their meaning in relation to a lighthouse offering guidance to ships and sailors during a storm. But what about the following line?
“Trim your feeble lamp, my brother…”
Back in those days, a common source of light was the old coal oil lamp. This was essentially kerosene, which will burn, but not explode. My parents would have remembered much about what was used for light in the days before there was electricity in homes.
When you trim such a lamp, you adjust the wick (center) so that the amount of light the lamp gives is either more or less (of it’s capacity, that is, what the device can do). One could adjust the light in this manner to be a little brighter or dimmer – according to the need and the amount of light desired.
Now here is another question: How can a LAMP be “feeble?”
The composer uses personification in this line – making an inanimate object (the lamp) take on a living human characteristic (in this case, feebleness). What is he trying to say? I believe the reference is to the IMMENSE TASK of the lamp to bring light to a large area of darkness.
What is the Deeper Meaning of Let the Lower Lights Be Burning?
Ah, my friends, there is so much depth of meaning in the words of this old tune! I’m sure I cannot plumb its depths in just one article, just as the depths of the oceans still hold wonders of which we remain unaware. But let’s take a peek at some analogies and comparisons that bring this hymn to life for our current generation, as well as those past and those who will come in the future.
We have already mentioned that sailing ships, particularly in the old days, was a dangerous venture.
The ship passing near the shore represents the life of a person.
The sailor on the ship went to many different places. It’s doubtful that those sailors were aware that “life was taking them from place to place” on more than just an earthly level. Those on the ship were likely not thinking of spiritual maters.
Most people, unaware that there is a spiritual side of life, would not think that a shoreline might represent a spiritual situation.
And the average sailor would not be thinking of spiritual matters, even when close to a shoreline.
The Lighthouse itself represents the Bible, which is the Word of God. The light, especially the lower light from the lighthouse represents Jesus Christ, and all that he stands for.
In the book of John, chapter 8 verse 2, Jesus said: “I am the Light of the world.” So the light coming out of the Lighthouse to save, to instruct, to guide, etc. is God’s Son.
According to the written Word of God, If anyone receives Christ, he is saved. In the case of the lighthouse, the poor sailor is saved both from the end of life on earth, to the beginning of the heavenly life.
The caretaker of the Lighthouse makes sure that the lights shine on the shoreline in times of darkness and storms. We could very easily compare the caretaker to the one with the message for the sailor and the ship. Without the caretaker, the light – the message – does not go forth.
Could we not, therefore, consider the caretaker as the one associated with the light – the message? It seems just like the person going forth in Jesus’ name to someone who is in need.
The Bible talks about one being sent by Jesus with the Gospel. If that person is received by whoever they were sent to, then Jesus is received, and the Father in heaven is received also. We see in John 10:30 that Jesus says… “I and my Father are one.”
The feeble lamp refers to the great task of sharing the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus from the dead), in order to secure eternal life for all who trust in Him.
The feeble lamp refers to the great task of telling, even though the individual who knows about the Light also knows that it is perhaps a small action. A feeble light is a very dim light until you think of eternity. But it seems that a dim light, that doesn’t burn out, may bring great results for God.
How Does “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” Apply to Our Lives As Believers?
As Christians, we are all caretakers of the Gospel, God’s message to all. Yet this song has application in particular to the Christ-follower. Without the caretaker, there is no message, there is no light, there is no human vessel to shine forth Jesus for the lost sinner to claim.
The caretaker is YOU, dear Christian brother and sister.
Jesus was given all authority over all earthly things by God the Father. The caretaker sees to it that the light of life shines brightly, that God’s message is shared. He sees that the light is on when needed.
Each of us, as believers in Jesus, can be a lighthouse to someone in need of our Savior. The caretaker of that lighthouse causes that light to burn, to welcome a person into a relationship with Christ. The lighthouse could be viewed as the Bible is viewed, being the go-between between a needy sailor (person) and a light to show him his need.
Have you, as a believer, shown or offered that light, that hope to a spiritually dying man, woman, or child?
Jesus Christ commanded His followers, beginning with the eleven chosen ones, to go forth with the precious Word of God, the message of salvation from sin that nobody can deny. God the Father, the one that we have all sinned against, has offered the way out (I should say… the ONLY way out).
* Look in the Bible for Romans 10:9-10, 13. Verse 13 says: “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
* In Acts 2:21 it says: “And it shall come to pass, that whosever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved!”
Christian, are you in any way, by your life and your action promoting the Lord Jesus Christ as everyone’s heavenly answer? If not, won’t you be that light, that lighthouse, to someone who doesn’t know Jesus?
Why was it so, in the Bible, that those who came to Jesus were told to go back home and tell others? Many of those who were just saved wanted to go with Jesus, to be with Him. God the Father knew that going back home and telling about Jesus would win more people.
Those of us alive today – after Jesus paid for our sins and returned to heaven, have the awesome privilege of having the Holy Spirit living within us, once we trust Jesus as our Savior. We no longer have to leave Him to go tell someone else – He is always with us! We are NEVER alone!
He will guide us, enlighten us, give us the words to say in each situation as we trust Him to do so.
So, dear reader, won’t you, as a Christ-follower become that light, that lighthouse to someone like the struggling seaman, the one with the glaring need?
God will bless you as you do what Jesus commanded of His disciples… share the light, show Christ. You could be the only light some lost soul may ever see!!
Closing Thoughts
Jesus is the Light. We, as believers are caretakers of that light. It is up to us to burn brightly to light the way for others to come into the eternal harbor safely.
I leave you with this blessed thought…
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
In His lighthouse evermore
But to us He gives the keeping
of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a beam across the waves!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
you may rescue, you may save.