Hymns With A Message: February 2021

Sunday, February 28, 2021

THE LOVE OF GOD (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A special feature where every few weeks I choose a hymn that I have written about before, revise and update it, and share it once again because I think it has a powerful message that we need. This one was shared previously on January 13, 2011.

There are some folks who think that this week's hymn is the greatest hymn ever written. I'm not sure how one would judge that, but it is exceptional with a powerful message. And while we think of love, there is no love that even comes close to God's love for us.

This hymn is actually of Jewish origin. The third verse dates back to the 11th Century, and was actually written first: Credit for the hymn itself goes to Frederick M. Lehman, though there are prior authors who contributed to it. The arrangement of Lehman's music was done by his daughter, Claudia L. Mays.

Though an author and composer of more than 100 published hymns, most of Lehman's songs are not that well-known. Lehman wrote a pamphlet, in 1948, entitled "History of the Song, The Love of God" which tells about the origin of this beloved hymn. "While at camp-meeting in a midwestern state, some fifty years ago in our early ministry, an evangelist climaxed his message by quoting the last stanza of this song. The profound depths of the line moved us to preserve the words for future generations. Not until we had come to California did this urge find fulfillment, and that at a time when circumstances forced us to hard manual labor".

"One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song. Since the lines (3rd stanza from the Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient's room in an insane asylum, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity. Actually, the key-stanza (third verse) under question as to its authorship was written nearly one thousand years ago by a Jewish songwriter." In God's providence these words were brought together to form this wonderful hymn which has spoken to so many over the years.

Meditate upon them with a heart full of thanksgiving for God's wonderful love.

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.

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 angels' song.

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure

The saints' and angels' 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,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure

The saints' and angels' song.

When I think of this hymn I think of hearing George Beverly Shea sing it. I have always loved his special voice and the way he ministered whenever he sang. You can listen to him sing it here. LISTEN

Sunday, February 21, 2021

MY SINS ARE BLOTTED OUT

Merrill Dunlop (1905-2002), the author and composer of this gospel song, gives this account of its origin:

"It was written in a very few minutes, although only after much deliberation, while I was crossing the Atlantic in 1927 on a liner, The Leviathan, and meditating upon the verses in Micah 7:18, 19 and upon the great dimensions of the sea - the breadth and the depth and what the Bible says about our sins - buried in those depths - removed - blotted out! Then, making it personal, I said: "My sins are blotted out, I know!" The melody came almost simultaneously with the words. I jotted the chorus down aboard the ship, as I walked the deck. Later, in Ireland, I added the words and music to the stanzas. It took hold immediately and quickly spread across America and across the seas."

Our sins are blotted out and buried. "Blotted out." is a term that means wiped out, erased, or obliterated. Our sins are completely gone from the record that was against us. After his terrible sins of adultery and murder, David prayed, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions ... Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities" (Ps. 51:1, 9).

Unfortunately, many Christians have suffered great emotional, mental, and even physical disorders throughout life because they could never accept the fact that God has totally forgiven them. How important it is to realize that when God offers us His forgiveness, it is never a partial but always a total forgiveness - the slate is forever clean." Psalm 103:12. "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John. 1:7).

Dunlop was educated at Central YMCA College in Chicago and at the Moody Bible Institute. He played the piano and organ at Moody Church and served as the director of music at the Chicago Gospel Tabernacle. He is said to have written 700 hymns and Gospel songs.

This week rejoice in the fact that all of your sins have been blotted out and buried in the deepest sea. Praise the Lord, you are forgiven!

1. What a wondrous message in God's Word!

My sins are blotted out, I know!

If I trust in His redeeming blood,

My sins are blotted out, I know!

Chorus