Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Love of God Is Greater Far… (hymn)

18 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 wand'ring child is reconciled
   by God's beloved Son.
   The aching soul again made whole,
   and priceless pardon won.

Refrain:
   O love of God, how rich and pure!
   How measureless and strong!
   It shall forevermore endure—
   the saints’ and angels’ song.

2 When ancient time shall pass away,
   and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
   when those who here refuse to pray
   on rocks and hills and mountains call;
   God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
   all measureless and strong;
   grace will resound the whole earth round—
   the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]

3 Could we with ink the ocean fill,
   and were the skies of parchment made;
   were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
   and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
   to write the love of God above
   would drain the ocean dry;
   nor could the scroll contain the whole,
   though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]
                         F. M. Lehman
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
I didn't know this hymn growing up, which is somewhat surprising because the author is Nazarene, a branch of Wesleyanism that still (at that time) had fairly close ties to the Methodist church. Anyway, it became one of my favorites, especially the last verse, which describes the vastness of God's love for us.
</idle musing>

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