O Love Divine

The Phos Hilaron (O Gracious Light) was one of the first recorded hymns of the Christian church, but certainly wasn’t the last. Jesus Christ and his redeeming love dominates the landscape of song in human history. In the Old Testament Israel worshiped and foreshadowed the Incarnation of Christ and the church, in response, writes hymnody and verse in reflection of his saving work on our behalf. There have been many prolific hymn writers through the ages; Fanny J. Crosby, Martin Luther, Isaac Watts, to name a few. I have recently been blessed by a hymn text of the great 18th century hymn writer, Charles Wesley. It is believed that Wesley penned over 6,000 hymns through the course of his lifetime. This is staggering, especially considering the theological weight and scriptural centeredness of his texts. These aren’t, “Love me Do” pop tunes, but serious, sublime, and beautiful hymns.

Wesley’s Hymn, O Love Divine, has lately been important to me and a blessing to my thoughts. Here is the text:

O Love Divine
The Gadsby Hymnal #249
Words: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788/Music: Jeff Koonce
© 2006 Red Mountain Music www.redmountainmusic.com

O love divine, how sweet thou art
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, and faint and die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love
The love of Christ to me
The love of Christ to me

Refrain
O love divine how sweet
O love divine how sweet
O love divine how sweet thou art

Stronger his love than death or hell
Its riches are unsearchable
The first born sons of light
Desire in vain its depths to see
They cannot reach the mystery
The length and breadth and height
The length and breadth and height

God only knows the love of God
O that it now were shed abroad
In this poor stony heart
For this I sigh, for this I pine
This only portion, Lord, be mine
Be mine this better part
Be mine this better part

This hymn has been newly arranged by the worship artists at Red Mountain Church in Birmingham, Alabama. It exists on a collection of b-sides that did not make one of their recordings. You can download it free, here. They have recorded numerous albums of rediscovered, obscure hymnody. Many of these are found in the Gadsby compendium of hymns. Another group of artists doing a great job of giving forgotten hymns new life are the folks at Indelible Grace. They also have produced several albums dedicated to the renewal of the neglected hymnody in the church.


O love divine, how sweet thou art
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, and faint and die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love
The love of Christ to me
The love of Christ to me