The infinite love of God for each of us stretches our souls to perfection with the hope in our bosoms that we can be like Him. The following poem was so powerful that it became the Jewish hymnology in their synagogues used for the Feast of Weeks, which Christians know as Pentecost. In 1050 A.D. a German poet and Rabbi, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai penned the following marvelous lines to try to touch on the majesty and magnitude of God’s love. The English translation is as follows, which ties to LOVE being the FIRST LAW of HEAVEN:
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and everyone 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.
These words come as close as any I have seen in comprehending God’s infinite love for each of us. In turn, that makes LOVE, the first law of Heaven.
How Words and Music Came About
We have a fascinating and very inspiring story of how the words and music for “The Love of God” came about. This amazing and inspiring story shows the hand of the Lord in the details of our lives and over the ages.
German-born, Frederick Martin Lehman (1868–1953), was a famous American Christian hymn writer. In 1917, he was working on a hymn entitled, “The Love of God,” and had written two verses, but was struggling with the third. His ten-year-old son, Blynn, wanting to help, as Divine design would have it, came across the above lyrics. A great growing experience followed for Blynn. Orchestrated by the Lord, Blynn was led to a Jewish Rabbi, who immediately recognized the words and knew who had written them.
These words then became the third verse, and it was immediately recognized for its outstanding merit. Today, it is one of the favorite Christian hymns. Here are all three verses. These are as written by Lehman with the help from his son, Blynn:
1) The love of God is greater far,
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
it goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell.
The wandering child is reconciled,
by God’s beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole,
and priceless pardon won.
Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.
2) When years of time shall pass away,
and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
when men who here refuse to pray,
on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race,
the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]
3) Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and everyone 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. [Refrain]
The movie, INDESCRIBABLE, is a very inspiring description of how the hymn, “The Love of God,” came into being. The movie is an amazing true story. The modern Christian version has varied some from Lehman’s original. They leave out verse two. I love verse two also.
God’s Primary Motive
The infinite love of God is the primary motivation for all He does. The creation, the fall, and the Lord’s infinite atonement were motivated by that love—the three pillars of eternity. Learning to love as God loves us is our pathway to perfection. This is why the first two and most important commandments are as stated in Matthew 22:37-40:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
“On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets.” Because of the paramount importance of LOVE, Chapter 4 of my first book, It’s About Time, is totally devoted to the grand importance of describing LOVE and sharing how to love God and our neighbor. As a major event in the end-times, we anticipate the establishment of a Zion society to be the Bride to receive the Bridegroom at His Coming. The main motivation of that society will be LOVE! Let it be our principal goal to be prepared for the same. Therein is a fullness of JOY.
Love is the First Law of Heaven
When you think about it, if all the people in the world would live these two commandments, it would solve all the world’s problems. If you don’t believe this profound statement, try to think of a situation that would not be solved if everyone lived the Law of Love?
Some believe Obedience is the first law of Heaven. In the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John, we read, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” In other words, if you love, you will obey. Then in verse 21 we read, we have the message that if we keep His commandments, then we love Him. In logic, if A implies B, and B implies A, then A and B are equivalent. This raises obedience to a celestial level. In other words, we obey because we want to please the Lord. Often obedience is thought of as you do it or else there will be serious consequences.
So we see that Love is the First Law of Heaven, and is equivalent to Celestial obedience. And it is this Celestial love that will solve all the world’s problems. Let us bask in God’s infinite love and internalize it ourselves. The Lord’s promise is a fullness of JOY. What could be better? Did you know the Torah is a Law of Love?
David W. Allan
PS Here is a beautiful rendition of “The Love of God.” The Love of God – Christian Music Videos (godtube.com)
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