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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)

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