O Love | Serenity Ensemble

752 views • Nov 3, 2023

Description

Text:

O Love that will not let me go, 
I rest my wear soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thy ocean depths, its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Joy  that seeks me through the pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

Lyrics: George Matheson
Music: Elaine Hagenberg

The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion

O Love

Words by George MathesonMusic by Albert Lister PeaceWritten 1882Tune ST. MARGARET

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Story Behind the Song

George Matheson, a blind Church of Scotland minister, wrote this hymn in 1882 at Innellan, Scotland. In his own account it came to him very quickly during a time of severe mental suffering, and the text required little correction afterward. Albert Lister Peace later composed the tune ST. MARGARET for the hymn, which became its standard congregational setting.

Scripture

Found In

Trinity Hymnal, The Hymnal 1982, The Presbyterian Hymnal, The United Methodist Hymnal, Baptist Hymnal