This marvelous hymn helps us to rejoice in the reality of God’s love for us sinners. Through Christ’s death, God loves us to the uttermost, even though we were loveless and undeserving. The hymn traces the way that Jesus humbled Himself by taking on our humanity and suffering at the hands of the very people He had come to save. Though Jesus did not deserve such treatment, He willingly endured His passion, death, and burial in order to save us. For that reason, we sing the praises of Jesus now and into all eternity. Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/430.
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church—Friedheim, just outside Decatur, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to Lutheran Service Book #430, “My Song Is Love Unknown.”
Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.
Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.
Lutheran Service Book 430
1 My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown
That they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I
That for my sake
My Lord should take
Frail flesh and die?
2 He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend,
My Friend indeed,
Who at my need
His life did spend!
3 Sometimes they strew His way
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!”
Is all their breath,
And for His death
They thirst and cry.
4 Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
Themselves displease
And ‘gainst Him rise.
5 They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful He
To suff’ring goes
That He His foes
From thence might free.
6 In life no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
Heav’n was His home
But mine the tomb
Wherein He lay.
7 Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my friend,
In whose sweet praise
I all my days
Could gladly spend!
Text Information
First Line: My song is love unknown
Title: My Song Is Love Unknown
Author: Samuel Crossman, c. 1624-83
Meter: 66 66 4444
Language: English
Publication Date: 2006
Scripture: Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:1-3; Romans 5:6; Romans 5:10; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 3:13-15
Topic: Redeemer
Tune Information
Name: LOVE UNKNOWN
Composer: John N. Ireland, 1879-1962
Meter: 66 66 4444
Key: D Major
Copyright: © John Ireland Trust
Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/430.
