First Binding Meditation

I have divided the Prayer of St. Patrick into four sections for our careful study.

Here is the first Section.

I bind unto myself today, the strong name of the Trinity:

By invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever, by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation:

His baptism at the Jordan River, His death on the Cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spiced tomb, His riding up the heavenly way,

His coming at the day of doom, I bind unto myself today! 

I bind unto myself today, the power of God to hold and lead:

His eye to watch, his might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need;

The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide His shield to ward;

The Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly Host to be my guard!

Remember, this prayer is the armour or breastplate, being worn by St. Patrick, during a time of ambush. We know the significance and symbolism of the breastplate in Scripture. Isaiah speaks of God wearing a breastplate. The prophet speaks of the Lord looking at His people and being very displeased indeed that He was unable to find justice in the land.  He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on a garment of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal, as in a cloak. Isaiah 59: 17.

We move on in faith, believing that this prayer is our breastplate also. We are chanting, praying and repeating this prayer in full acceptance that the Holy Spirit is our sure Lead and Guide. With all of self put aside, we move on in faith.

Acknowledgement of the Supremacy of the Godhead. 

I bind unto myself in this hour, the Name of the Trinity whose Name is above all other Names in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. The one who is praying is petitioning and invoking the Supreme Authority of the One God in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By invoking Him and no other spiritual being, St Patrick is openly lauding God as above all other principalities and powers that are seeking to deny him, service to his Lord.

Bold, strong and sure about who the God he serves is, St. Patrick, lays it all thick, if you like, all that he is coating and cloaking himself with. In other words, he is binding and wrapping around himself, all the mighty, miraculous love-works of his Triune God. He is particularly careful in announcing, all about the working victories, triumphs and celebrations of the Trinity in Jehovah’s plan of salvation for all humankind.

Power of Faith

By power of faith, Patrick binds to himself, as the children of God had to bind God’s law to their hands and head, all the uncalculatingly powerful victories of God the Son, of the Three in One and One in Three. He cloaks himself in the Saviour’s Incarnation, Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension and Returning.

Provision of Faith

By provision of faith, Patrick binds to himself, the Fatherhood of God. He is holding on tightly to the authoritative power of God made manifest with God’s: - 

Hands – Like a Loving Shepherd, God’s Hands hold and lead him. Must he not feel safe?

Eyes – Like a Protective Father, God’s Eye is on him, watching, ready to stay the adversary, at any time of night or day.   Must he not know security? 

Ears – Like an Attentive Guardian, God’s Ear is tuned towards him, listening to and hearing his every need.  Must he not know confidence?

Promise of Faith

By the promises of faith, Patrick binds unto himself the felt and seen presence of God the Holy Spirit, in His works. This believer in God is instructed by the One Wise, the Holy Spirit, who has been promised as Teacher, Guide and Shield. He is kept by the Word of God, which is the Spirit’s sword. He swaddles himself in the knowledge given him by the Spirit, and feels the distinct guarding protection of the Lord’s angels.   

One point of meditation here, is that all who are instructed by our Sovereign Three in One God, believing His every Word, will never fail to receive His impenetrable protection.