There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 588)
1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice Which is more than liberty
There is no place where earth’s sorrows Are more felt than up in heav’n.
There is no place where earth’s failings Have kindly judgment giv’n.
2 There is a welcome for the sinner, And a promised grace made good;
There is a mercy with the Savior; There is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations In that upper home of bliss.
3 For the love of God is broader Than the measures of our mind;
And the heart of the eternal Is most wonderfully kind.
There is plentiful redemption In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members In the sorrows of the head.
4 ‘Tis not all we owe to Jesus; It is something more than all:
Greater good because of evil, Larger mercy through the fall.
If our love were but more simple, We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of the Lord.
Text: Frederick W. Faber; Music: North American; Public Domain
Devotion
This hymn was written by Catholic priest Frederick W. Faber who grew up in a very strict religious family where music was not a regular part of faith practices. As Faber was exposed to Protestant music of the time, he began to write his own poetry and music. Eventually, he wrote over 150 hymns for use in the Roman Catholic church.
The words in verse 1 of this hymn convey a poignant message about God’s presence in times of sorrow and struggle. We can trust that God is right there with us, loving us and providing for us in ways we can’t even imagine.
Knowing about Faber’s strict upbringing, it is striking to hear his words in verse 3 of this hymn and ponder how significant God’s mercy must have been for him. “But we make this love too narrow by false limits of our own; and we magnify its strictness with a zeal God will not own.”
Prayer
O God, your mercy and justice help us to trust you and to know you love us. Help us to reach out with your love to all people and to welcome them into our lives with confidence that you are always with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.