Musings on God’s Word

As I pondered our hymn sing from Sunday night it made me consider the value of hymns. I’ve often referred to hymns as a “Sermon in a Song”.

Hymns primarily are –

• Gospel Messages
• Testimonies
• Invitations to Salvation
• Praises
• Expressions of Joy in the Lord.

The Love of God

1) The Love of God is greater far 
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Chorus
O Love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints and angels song!

2) When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race
The saints and angel's song.

3) Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
and every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above 
would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Tho' stretched from sky to sky.

This beloved gospel song has its roots in a Jewish poem, written in Germany in the eleventh century. The current author and composer, Mr. Lehman, wrote a pamphlet in 1948 entitled “History of the Song, The Love of God.

Portions of Mr. Lehman’s account are as follows:

Fifty years ago an evangelist climaxed his message by quoting the last stanza of this hymn. This led Mr. Lehman, while taking a break from his manual labor job, wrote the first two stanzas.The words to the 3rd verse (The Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum, after he had been carried to his grave. The general opinion was that this inmate had written those words in moments of sanity.

That third verse, under question as to its authorship, was written over one thousand years ago by a Jewish songwriter.The three verses were brought together by Mr. Lehman (a gentile) in 1917. Mr. Lehman 1868-1953.Mr Lehman pastored many Nazarene churches.

 He was also involved in creating the Nazarene Publishing House. The harmonization of the music was done by Mr. Lehman’s daughter.  Mrs. W. W. Mays 1892-1973

That third stanza expresses in such beautiful terms how great the Love of God for fallen man is!

There is also a Jewish poem written in 1096 with ninety couplets. Throughout the poem the theme of God’s eternal love and concern for His people is evident.

One section of the poem reads as follows.

Were the sky of parchment made,

A quill each reed, each twig and blade,

Could we with ink the oceans fill.

Were every man a scribe of skill,

The marvelous story of God’s great glory

would still remain untold; For He, most high

The earth and sky Created alone of old.

Beautiful words describing the great love of Jesus for lost sinners and saved.

Our souls can seek comfort in that love and our steadfast hope of eternal life.