Love Of God is greater far - Hymn Lyrics

 The Love of God

Words by Frederick M. Lehman

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 wand'ring child is reconciled
by God's beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole,
and priceless pardon won.

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

2 When ancient time shall pass away,
and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
when those who here refuse to pray
on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
grace will resound the whole earth round—
the saints’ and angels’ song.

3 Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and ev’ryone 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. 

• Year Written: 1917

• Theme: The boundless and eternal nature of God's love

• Notable Verse:
  "Could we with ink the ocean fill,
  And were the skies of parchment made..."

Background:
This cherished hymn was penned by Frederick M. Lehman after he was deeply moved by a poem about God's immeasurable love. Remarkably, the hymn's third verse was adapted from a poem dating back to the 11th century, originally written by Jewish poet Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai. Lehman discovered the verse written on the wall of a patient’s room in an asylum, capturing the depth of divine love in poetic form.

Musical Style:
Reflective and reverent, this hymn is often sung in traditional worship settings, reminding believers of the limitless nature of God's mercy and grace.