What Wondrous Love Is This (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 666)
1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
3 To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
4 And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing God’s love for me,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and through eternity I’ll sing on.
Text: North American folk hymn; Music: W. Walker, Southeran Harmony; Public Domain
Devotion
“What Wondrous Love is This,” an early American folk hymn, was first published in 1811 during the second Great Awakening, its melody deriving from a popular English ballad.
I am a member of a barbershop chorus that strives for excellence in tone, projection, and performance. We join the hymn: “To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,” and sing for excellence in hearing, for success in telling, and in anticipation of that Melody of Grace when from death we’re free.
In retirement, I literally catch myself singing to myself much of the day. I am amazed how music carries me. You and I are free to sing the Melody of Grace the Lord has taught us. We can sing for excellence in performance, sing for others to hear the gospel, and sing knowing that the gospel of the Lord is present even when you and I might sing out of tune. Amen.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, we sing to you daily for giving us your love. Now may we sing on and on even through our death to the promise of life in you. Amen.