Music For Our Souls - George Matheson - "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go"

 

When I recently uploaded my novel The Softest Breath to audiobook, I was reminded of a beautiful hymn in the climax of the story. I can't tell you it's significance to the story without a huge spoiler, but in the process, I was called back again to the beautiful lyrics based upon Jeremiah 31:3; 2 Corinthians 5:14; and Romans 8:35.

That hymn is titled "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go", and it is the most famous piece written by George Matheson (1842-1906), a Scottish minister who had gone blind at age twenty, but went on to become a brilliant scholar at Edinburgh University. In 1870 was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree.

He was also a prolific writer and was said to have an astonishing ability to memorize lengthy passages. Some who heard him preach remarked that they had not realized he was blind. 

Reverend Matheson published one volume of verse called Sacred Songs. But of all his written works, he said that none came to him like the famous hymn he wrote on June 6th, 1882, the night of his sister's wedding. It was late in the evening, while he was alone in the manse at Innelan, Argyleshire, Scotland, and the rest of his family had stayed the night in Glasgow. He tells that some grave suffering had happened to him, which was known to him alone, but caused mental anguish. It was then the verses flowed. He said:

"I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high."

Rev. George Matheson, Church of Scotland
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Truly, Matheson's hymn speaks well to the brokenhearted who are yearning after hope and clinging to God's promises. The opening word of each stanza point to the faithfulness and provision of our great God: Love--for He holds tightly to us and nothing can snatch us from His hand, Light--for He forever promises guidance to our paths, Joy--that runs deep, and no one can take away, and Cross--reminding us of the One Who suffered for us, that we might have hope eternal, even amid our own sufferings.

Here are the lyrics to that worshipful hymn:

O Love that will 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 foll’west all my way,

I yield my flick’ring 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.

The music was written in 1884 by Albert L. Peace, a gifted musician. His tune was titled St. Margaret (Peace).

Gaither Vocal Band - O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (Live)

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If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my previous "Music for Our Souls" posts, as well as a recent post by Cindy Ervin Huff: Jesus Love Me-A Simple Hymn with Global Appeal and a Grammy Winner.

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Echoes of the Heart is now on AUDIO!

If you're curious about how Reverend Matheson's hymn found its way into the climax of The Softest Breath, you can find it along with the entire Echoes of the Heart series here.

If you've already read these books, write to me and let me know if you remember what happened. naomimusch (AT) naomimusch.com