Lyrics - Here Is Love Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise)

Verse 1

Here is love vast as the ocean,

Loving-kindness as the flood,

When the Prince of Life, our ransom,

Shed for us His precious blood.

Who His love will not remember?

Who can cease to sing His praise?

He can never be forgotten

Throughout heav’n’s eternal days.

Verse 2

On the mount of crucifixion

Fountains opened deep and wide

Through the floodgates of God's mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide

Grace and love like mighty rivers

Poured incessant from above

Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love

Verse 3

On the morn of resurrection

Mercy filled the thirsty grave

Where the stone of death burst open

Springs of life flowed unrestrained

Love no heart could ever measure

Joy no sorrows will outrun

Rush upon the soul believing

In the risen, reigning Son

Verse 4

O this love, vast love of Jesus

Bids us come and drink and live

To this weary world of longing

What more could our Savior give

Now to Christ who fully loved us

And who freed us from our sin

Be all glory and dominion

Everlasting praise to Him

Bible Memory Verse

‘To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.’

(Revelation 1:5b, ESV)

Story Behind the Song

This hymn was written by a Welshman called William Rees in 1847. He was a poet and a minister in a part of the world with a beautiful coast land. Perhaps that helped inspire some of the poetry he used. In Welsh the hymn is called ‘Dyma gariad fel y moroed’.

Several decades later the hymn became known as the ‘love song of the Welsh revival’. Imagine a small church in the Welsh town of Abertillery in 1904. Every corner is packed and people are leaning over the balcony, just as in many other churches up and down the country at that time. The congregation had been together praying and singing for several hours when suddenly a voice sang out ‘Here is love vast as the ocean’.

The rich and moving way it tells the gospel story struck a deep chord. The song went all over the world and with it the story of the Welsh revival telling how thousands of people came to faith in Christ.

The song traditionally has only two verses and so Matt Boswell worked with us to add two more verses. Using some more of the water imagery we carried the story on to the resurrection and then to an invitation for all to come to know the Lord’s unfailing love.

Something to Think About

There is a stunning lookout point on the North Coast of Ireland called Horn Head. Perhaps you could look for it on the map?We rushed up to catch the sunset there last summer!

We saw such a wide view of the sea from the land it was so hard to take it all in. It seemed like you could almost see a faint curve of the earth it was so wide. The vastness of the ocean took our breath away.

Such a great sight makes us feel very small and God so big. We are and He is! But His love for us is greater than the biggest, deepest ocean. We see this most in the gift of the Lord Jesus. All who confess their sin to Him are washed clean. All who trust in Him find life where no end can be reached.

Like a little child splashing in the waves with the wind on their face He calls us to run in and delight in how much He loves us. And to tell others to come in too!

Prayer

Father in heaven,

Thank you for your very great love for us. It gives us such joy and courage to come to you and ask for your forgiveness and peace. Use the words of this hymn to remind us and others of your faithful love,

In Jesus name

Amen

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