Last year for my Valentine blog, I wrote about the first love song that many of us ever learned "Jesus Loves Me." I thought this year that I would focus on another song that relays how God loves us.

The "Love of God" was written by Frederick M. Lehman in 1817.  We don't know much on the history of how he came to write this song. The first two verses were written by Lehman, and the third verse, according to Lehman, was found written on the wall of an insane asylum after the patient had died. It believed to be the translation of an Aramaic poem, "Haddamut", written ca. 1050 by Rabbi Meir of Worms, Germany.

The song has stood the test of time. It has been sung and recorded by many artists. It was a favorite at the Billy Graham crusades when sang by George Beverly Shea. The last stanza speaks, especially to writers. Our words are so inadequate to express the great love of our God. So, I hope you don't hear my words but read or sing these words and meditate on the truest love ever this Valentine's Day.

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

When hoary 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.

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.
 
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5) (NIV)