JESUS CHRIST >> LOVE OF CHRIST FOR US
SDAH 191
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: Love Divine
Charles Wesley’s joyful hymn is a prayer for Christian perfection and complete transformation through divine love. Written in 1747, it combines poetic beauty with rich biblical language. The tune BEECHER by John Zundel, named for the great preacher Henry Ward Beecher, supports the text with warmth and strength. Let us sing it as a prayer for the Spirit to dwell in us and make us wholly Thine.
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Charles Wesley (1707–1788; see Biographies) wrote this hymn of four stanzas in 1747 under the title “Jesus, Show Thy Salvation”; it was first printed in that same year in Hymns for Those That Seek, and Those That Have Redemption. At that time there was a popular tune set by Purcell to the “Song of Venus” in Dryden’s play King Arthur. The opening words were:
Fairest isle, all isles excelling,
Seat of pleasures and of loves,
Venus here will choose her dwelling
And forsake her Cyrian groves.
Wesley capitalized on the tune and wrote his hymn in the same meter, using also two of Dryden’s rhymes, but the hymn is virtually a composite of many verses of Scripture, showing Wesley’s familiarity with the Bible.
The tune BEECHER was composed especially for these words by John Zundel in 1870 and first appeared in Christian Heart Songs. Born December 10, 1815, at Hockdorf, Germany, Zundel migrated to the United States, where he spent more than 30 years. He was the organist for 28 years in the Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn, New York, at a time when the famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887) was the pastor; the tune was named to commemorate him. Zundel was the assistant musical editor for the Plymouth Collection, prepared for the use of Beecher’s congregation, and contributed this tune BEECHER and 27 others to that hymnal. He died in July 1882, at Cannstatt, Germany.
Stanza:
1 – Isaiah 57:15
Matthew 9:36
Psalm 106:4
2 – John 20:22
Hebrews 4:9
Revelation 22:13
Hebrews 12:2
3 – Malachi 3:1
Revelation 4:8
Revelation 5:11, 12
4 – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 5:27
Psalm 51:12
2 Corinthians 3:18
Revelation 4:10
Text
1
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
2
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find the promised rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
3
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy grace receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
4
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Isa 57:15; Matt 9:36; Ps 106:4 (b) John 20:22; Heb 4:9; Rev 22:13; Heb 12:2 (c) Mal 3:1; Rev 4:8; 5:11, 12 (d) 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 5:27; Ps 51:12; 2 Cor 3:18; Rev 4:10
Author
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Year Published
1747
Hymn Tune
BEECHER
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.D.
Composer
John Zundel (1815-1882)
Year Composed
1870
Alternate Tune
HYFRYDOL SDAH 167
Theme
LOVE OF CHRIST FOR US
Charles was the other Wesley. Alongside his brother John who was considered the main guy behind the founding of Methodism, it was Charles’ hymns that pushed through the envelope of being “just another religion.” His lasting and well-known hymns have captivated Christians all around the world. Through his poetic lines, we are able to sing many hymns with such deep theology.
It was said that he wrote 8,989 hymns. That’s 10 lines of poetry every single day for 50 years. And we are privileged to have sung some of those hymns. Tell me, don’t these hymns ring a bell for you?
