why should I feel discouraged
why should the shadows come
why should my heart feel lonely
and long for heaven and home
when jesus is my portion
a constant friend is he
his eye is on the sparrow
and I know he watches over me
his eye is on the sparrow
and i know he watches over me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm 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
he watches me, I know,
he watches me.
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will-Matthew 10:29
Most people have a hobby of sore sort to provide a healthy diversion from the rigors of work. Long ago, there was a woodworker in Nazareth who counted bird-watching among His diversions. We can make that assumption because Jesus later referred frequently to bird-life in His sermons, saying things like:
- "are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? and not one of them falls to the gground apart from your father's will" (matt 10:29).
- "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (matt 6:26)
- Consider the ravens..." (Luke 12:26)
- "Do not fear...you are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7)
it was this theme that caused the author of "God will take care of you," to write, a year later, another great hymn on God's care: "His Eye is on the Sparrow."
Civilla Durfee Martin was a Canadian by birth, born on August 21, 1869, in Nova Scotia. She became a school and music teacher, but when she married Dr. Walter Martin, an Evangelist, she gave up teaching to travel with him and assist in his meetings.
This is her account of the writing of this song:
Early in the spring 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 wheel chair. 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 reply 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.
The day after writing the song, she mailed it to the famous Gospel composer, Charles Gabriel, who penned the music.
Cited: Historical Hymn
