DEACON’S BEACON
AN OCEAN OF INK
The words of the hymn “The Love of God” capture in word pictures the breathtaking magnitude of divine love:
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every 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.
These marvelous lyrics echo Paul’s response to the love of God. The apostle prayed that believers might “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge”. (Eph. 3:18-19). In reflecting on these verses about God’s love, some Bible scholars believe ‘width’ refers to its worldwide embrace (John 3:16); ‘length’, its existence through all ages (Eph. 3:21); ‘depth’, its profound wisdom (Rom. 11:33); and ‘height’, its victory over sin opening the way to heaven (Eph. 4:8).
We are admonished to appreciate this amazing love. Yet as we expand our awareness of God’s love, we soon realize that its full measure is beyond our understanding. Even if the ocean were filled with ink, using it to write about the love of God would drain it dry.
To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. - Ephesians 3:19
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Our Daily Bread
Richard Stewart
Thanks for posting the beautiful final stanza of “The Love of God.” Today is the anniversary of the birth of Frederich Lehman in 1868, the author of all but that final verse–which is centuries old.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the parallel between Ephesians 3:18 and John 3:16. “God so loved the world” (the breadth of His love); “that He gave His only begotten Son” (the length to which He went to save us); “that whoever believes in Him” (whoever, even the vilest saint–that is love’s depth); “should not perish but have everlasting life” (the height to which His love lifts us).
God bless.