Skip to main content

Here Is Love (Updated Text)—with David Galvin

I was glad to see that the new Hymns of Grace, published by Master's Seminary, includes one of my favorite hymns, "Here Is Love." (I especially love Dan Forrest's arrangement of this hymn.)

But, annoyingly, the editors of the new Hymns of Grace changed all of the "thees" and "thous" to "yous" and so forth—with the exception of the final word of the piece, which ends on "thee"! They did so to rhyme with "me" two lines up. While I totally understand why they did what they did, I'd rather see a hymn be consistent in its use of older English. In my opinion, either leave the text as is (originally written), or update the entire text.

Since no such updated text exists, I had my friend David Galvin of Glad Adoration Music Ministries set the traditional tune to the updated text. Access the full text and music PDF here.

I hope it's a blessing to the church and an encouragement to those who sing it.

1.
Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout heaven's eternal days

2. 
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God's mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heaven's peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

3. 
Let me, all Your love accepting,
Love You ever all my days;
Let me seek Your kingdom only,
And my life be to Your praise.
You alone shall be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
You have cleansed and sanctified me
You Yourself have set me free.

4.
In Your truth You surely guide me
By Your Spirit through Your Word;
And Your grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in You, my Lord.
Of Your fullness You are pouring
Your great love and pow'r anew,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to You.


Text © Dustin Battles (2015)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Heaven's Holy Throne—with James Koerts

He Stepped from Heaven’s Holy Throne Text by Dustin Battles Music by James Koerts Copyright 2015 by The Wilds PDF available here.  1. He stepped from heaven’s holy throne To take a body like our own.  With love so great, in manner meek, For sinners Jesus came to seek.  2. Christ lived a humble, blameless life, Yet men in hatred caused Him strife. Among the thieves they nailed Him high,  Though we deserved that death to die.  3. When Jesus died, a darkness fell, As if creation could not tell If it would ever once more shine  The glories of the King divine.  4. Then Christ arose just as He said: He crushed our sin and Satan’s head. The light of Jesus’ empty grave, Proves Christ our Savior came to save! 5. No more a servant, now a King— He rules now over everything. Robed in His garments free from stains, We worship Him who ever reigns. Chorus: On bended knee we bow to You— Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and King! Now
Post a Comment
Read more

Forsaken—with Dan Forrest

A forthcoming choral anthem published by Beckenhorst Press features my lyrics and music by Dan Forrest. Dan wrote some sobering but powerful music that completely captures the grief Christ's sacrifice expressed in the text. The text is written in a 1st-person narrative by Christ in the garden of Gethsemene and on the cross at Golgotha. “How long, My God, will You neglect My prayer? Will You forget these tears of dark despair? Yet not My will, but Yours alone be done: Forsake not man, but Me—Your sinless Son. I, Christ the Son, obey Your great command, Enduring punishment for sinful man. As Son and silent Lamb, I choose this path: Accept rejection to appease Your wrath.” “O why, My God, have You forsaken Me? Why have You now refused My final plea? Though I cry out in sorrow, pain, and fear, You turn Your back; in silence, disappear. I, Christ the Son, bear all their sin alone, Embracing judgment from Your glorious throne. As Son and spotless Lamb,
3 comments
Read more

"Buried in the Grave of Jesus" (Trench and Battles)

Mrs. J. A. Trench wrote a hymn text well over one hundred years ago entitled, "Buried in the Grave of Jesus." Much of it was outdated or misunderstood, so I moderately edited it for our church. Praise the Lord we had two ladies baptized, an octogenarian and a young wife and mother expecting a child! So I edited this hymn to be sung at their baptism service.  If I had to estimate who gets the credit for this hymn, it's probably 70% Mrs. Trench and 30% me. But it's all because of Jesus!  Words: Mrs. J. A. Trench (1843-1925) and Dustin Battles (1986– ) Music: NETTLETON, Anonymous 1. Buried in the grave of Jesus, we believe what God has said: Sin has no more pow’r to seize us, since in Jesus we were dead.  All the waves rolled over Jesus, there exhausted all their power. Death and judgment are behind us, grace and glory are before. 2. Firstfruits of the resurrection, Christ is risen from the tomb. Now we are a new creation: old has passed, the new has come.  Jesus died, a
Post a Comment
Read more