The second line of this hymn describes the love of Jesus as “vast, unmeasured, boundless, free.” In our finite, physical world, it is difficult to genuinely comprehend this concept. The ocean is the largest thing on earth. Its deepest point is deeper than the highest mountain on earth, yet God's love is deeper still. From any point on the coast, we can see just a small fraction of the sea. We know that the vast ocean has boundaries, but God's love is boundless.
Text:
Samuel Trevor Francis is the author of this hymn. Nothing else about it is known for sure. There is a legend that he wrote it as a personal testimony after nearly committing suicide as a young man by jumping into the Thames River off London’s Hungerford Bridge. While this suggests a certain dramatic angle for interpreting the hymn, no reputable evidence has been found to corroborate the story.
The text has three eight-line stanzas. It is a testimony in the first person to the magnitude, power, eternity, and sweetness of the love of Jesus, and how His love will carry us to Him someday.
Tune:
The most common tune for this text is a Welsh one, EBENEZER. It was written by Thomas Williams in the late nineteenth century as part of an anthem. An alternate title is TON-Y-BOTEL, which comes from a legend that this tune was found in a bottle on the coast of Wales. EBENEZER can be sung in unison or harmony. Sing with a brisk tempo, so that the triplets do not drag.
When/Why/How:
This hymn could be used for a service where the love of God or testimony to God's love is a theme. If the hymn is a familiar one to the congregation, a piano setting, such as is found in “My Jesus, I Love Thee” or “Celtic Hymn Settings for Piano” could be used for a time of reflection following a testimony of faith or a Scripture reading. Otherwise, a choral anthem could be used for the purpose, such as “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” set to the peaceful tune BUNESSAN with piano accompaniment and some original music by Jack Schrader.
Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org
Francis, Samuel Trevor, son of an artist, was born at Cheshunt, Herts, in 1835, and is a merchant in London. He has written numerous hymns, which have been printed in various religious newspapers and periodicals during the past 30 years. Of these hymns the following are in the Enlarged London Hymn Book, 1873:—
1. Blessed, blessed Jesus. Pressing Onward.
2. Gracious Saviour, grant Thy word. Lent.
3. Home, home of light and glory. Heaven Desired.
4. I am waiting for the dawning. Heaven Anticipated.
5. Jesus, we remember Thee. Passiontide.
6. O child of sorrow, weary, distressed. Salvation in Jesus only.
7. O Jesus, how great is Thy mercy. Salvation in Jesus.
8. Safe to land, no shadows darken. Death and B… Go to person page >
My Starred Hymns
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
