There have been so many great hymns written over the years about the love of God. His love is so amazing and powerful that we should never tire of worshipping and thanking Him by singing these songs. The one I've chosen this week is one without much written history. The author is said to be unknown. It is classified as a Christian folk hymn, sometimes described as a "white spiritual" because it is believed to have come from the American South. The text was first published in 1811 in Lynchburg, Virginia in a camp meeting songbook. Its melody is derived from a popular English ballad. In an 1848 hymnal the text is attributed to a Methodist pastor from Georgia named Alexander Means, but there is really no historical confirmation of this. It is interesting to note that In 1952, American composer and musicologist Charles F. Bryan included "What Wondrous Love Is This" in his folk opera Singin' Billy. In 1966, the United Methodist Book of Hymns became the first standard hymnal to incorporate this hymn. But no matter who wrote it, the words remind us of how wondrous is God's love to us. The author wriote how the Lord came to bear the dreadful curse for our souls. He shares how Christ laid aside His crown for our souls when we were sinking down beneath God's righteous frown. We were hopeless without this wondrous sacrifice from God's love. He concludes by reminding us that we should sing and thank God and the Lamb, the great "I Am", and join the millions whose lives have been transformed by this wondrous love. Whether we sing this powerful hymn or a simple chorus such as Jesus Loves Me, our praise and thanksgiving for the gift of His love and salvation should be on our lips every day. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:15. "God demonstrated His love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 What wondrous love is this!
1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, O my soul!
When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
3 To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb who is the great "I AM,"
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
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