When you hear the word love, what is the first thing your mind pictures? I just got my Valentine’s Day decorations out, so the red roses (artificial for myself) and red hearts come to my mind when I first think of love. But there’s a lot more to love than flowers, candy, and cards. I’d rather feel the love of someone special through a hug or a touch than receive those material things any day!
I don’t always turn the radio on in the morning while I’m getting breakfast but one morning I turned on my radio app (set only to Rejoice Radio—can be found on the internet or on Google Play Store—from Pensacola Christian College) for some music. One of the first songs I heard? A hymn that, though I don’t dislike it, is just not on my favorites list, “The Love of God”. I’m a picture/visual person, and as I looked out the window at the morning sky, I started visualizing what the words of the song depicted and as the song went on, [good] tears started rolling down my cheeks. It reminded me that even though I don’t always (many times) feel loved by others, His love is greater, stronger, and constant.
Take a moment to listen to the hymn here before you read further.
In the link above, one of the comments says this:
“The 3rd verse was discovered on a bedroom wall of an insane asylum after the man in it passed away. It is believed that in a moment of clarity this Jewish man composed these beautiful words on the wall.”
Ref: https://hymnary.org/text/the_love_of_god_is_greater_far Scroll down to the “Notes” section for more information.
I want us to think about this third verse and picture it in your mind. If you’re an artist, draw or paint a picture of what this might look like to you and message me with it if you don’t mind sharing. I’d love to see your visual thoughts. Too many times we sing words to a song from memory or staring at a hymnal or screen but don’t think about the words. So today exercise your mind’s eye on these words from the third verse of this hymn.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and ev’ry 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.
Here are my picturesque thoughts:
- Picture the ocean full of ink.
- The sky is the parchment (or in today’s terms the paper).
- A stalk or maybe a bird’s feather is the quill or pen. Does anyone remember the old fountain pens that almost looked like a quill that our forefathers used to sign important papers? I do…I used to use them in my younger years.
- Now who or what is a scribe? It’s someone who writes down what another tells them…kind of like a secretary who writes down what her boss dictates.
- Next comes the message…what the scribe writes…in this case the subject is the love of God.
- Here’s where the awesomeness comes in! There wouldn’t be enough ocean (ink) nor sky (scroll/paper) to contain the entire message of God’s love.
- The ocean would be drained.
- The sky wouldn’t be big enough.
- But the love of God is super abundant!
This is what God’s Word says about His love:
“…and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:19, NIV
Just think. The ocean and sky isn’t big enough to contain the love of God, but He fills us with His love every day, and our hearts are nowhere near as big as the ocean or sky. That’s a lot of love poured into us.
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Ephesians 3:19, NLT
I don’t understand how God does it, but I don’t need to. I just revel in His goodness to me and in the power He supplies to keep me going until He calls me home. The refrain of this hymn sums it all up:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.