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The Love of God is Greater Far

Author: Frederick M. Lehman (1917)

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. [Refrain]

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. [Refrain]

About Frederick M. Lehman

Frederick M. Lehman was a Pasadena, California businessman whose business suffered a drastic decline and he lost everything.  He resorted to manual labor — packing oranges and lemons into wooden crates.  Lehman was also a Christian who attended church and found joy in his salvation. A Sunday evening sermon on the love of God moved him deeply and the next morning, as he drove to work, words came to him for a song about God’s love.

After the day’s work, he returned home and sat at his piano. He began to put the words he had been contemplating to music.  He quickly completed two stanzas, but by the standards of his day, three were needed.  So he tried to find the words for a third but could think of none.

Then he remembered a poem on a bookmark he’d been given.  The words were about God’s love and on the bottom of the card was information about their source.

“These words were found written on a cell wall in a prison some 200 years ago. It is not known why the prisoner was incarcerated; neither is it known if the words were original or if he had heard them somewhere and had decided to put them in a place where he could be reminded of the greatness of God’s love. Whatever the circumstances, he wrote them on the wall of his prison cell. In due time, he died and the men who had the job of repainting his cell were impressed by the words. Before their paint brushes had obliterated the words, one of the men jotted them down and thus they were preserved.”

The poem he read was:

“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.”

Lehman added the words to his song as the third stanza.  They were a perfect fit with the melody and perfect for the third stanza.

Years later, a man named Alfred B. Smith found more information on the poem’s origin. It was written in Hebrew around the year 1000 by Meir Ben Issac Nehoria, a Jewish Rabbi. God preserved his words, and hundreds of years later, an imprisoned man translated the Rabbi’s words into English. Someone put the words on a bookmark, and someone gave that bookmark to Frederick Lehman, who included them in his beautiful song “The Love of God is Greater Far.” Thus, these words from 1000 AD have been preserved for you and me!

Words of Wisdom from the Cloud of Witnesses:  "Cloud of Witnesses" refers to those in Heaven who have run their races and are now with the Lord. Their words of wisdom are filled with faith, hope, love, and joy that warm our souls. Their words present the eternal truths of God that grow us and give us joy. And their words strengthen our souls, equip our minds, encourage our hearts, and empower us to stand firm in our faith and be motivated, ready, and willing to share the hope we have in Jesus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith...(Hebrews 12:1-2) 

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***A Hidden Message in Psalm 23?***  

Hidden in the six verses of Psalm 23 are 11 names for Jesus.  When you subscribe to our newsletter, we’ll send you The Names of God in Psalm 23 PDF that reveals all 11 names and Scripture verses of comfort and hope (link will be sent in your confirmation email).

A Room with a View of Eternity—The Last Will & Testament of Jesus Christ   Take a seat at the Master's table. Learn about the riches He gives to all who are His. This book will bless and encourage you, give you hope, and help you live in the joy of your salvation and the riches of Christ that are yours.

The Top Ten Got Questions? in 2023 

  1. The Meaning of NUMBERS in the Bible?
  2. Was Jesus CRUCIFIED on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?
  3. How was Jesus Like a Worm? What’s the CRIMSON (OR SCARLET) WORM in Psalm 22?
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  10. Did Jesus Fight Satan to Take Back the KEYS of Death and Hell?

There is much to be learned from those who have gone before us in the faith.  Check out our Cloud of Witnesses category that features the words of departed saints who are now with the Lord in glory.  Their words equip and encourage us even to this day.  Take a few minutes to hear...

  1. ONLY ONE LIFE, Twill Soon Be Past – by C.T. Studd (1860 – 1931)
  2. “The Love of God is Greater Far” by Frederick M. Lehman (1917)
  3. Prayers from Billy Graham
  4. Who Was Robert Robinson? What’s the Story Behind “Come Thou Fount”
  5. “Immanuel” — A Poem by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
  6. Who Am I? A Poem by Deitrich Bonhoeffer (1905-1945)
  7. Understanding the Everlasting Arms of God, by J.R. Miller (1840–1912)
  8. 24 Reasons Why I Love America, by John Wayne (1907-1979)
  9. Give Me Perpetual Broken-heartedness (from The Valley of Vision)
  10. Abide with Me, by James Smith, 1859

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