Oh Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

George Matheson was a teenager when he learned that his poor eyesight was deteriorating further. Not to be denied, he continued straightaway with his plans to enroll in Glasgow University and his determination led to his graduating at the age of nineteen. However, when he pursued graduate studies for Christian ministry he became totally blind. His sisters joined ranks beside him, learning Greek and Hebrew to assist him in his studies, and his pressed faithfully on. But his spirit collapsed when his fiancée, unwilling to be married to a blind man, broke the engagement and returned the ring.

George never married, and the pain of the rejection never totally left him. Years later, one of his sisters came to him, announcing her engagement. He rejoiced with her, but his mind went back to his own heartache. He consoled himself in reflecting on God’s love which is never limited, never conditional, never uncertain and never withdrawn. Out of this experience he wrote the hymn, “Oh Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” in 1882.

George Matheson became a powerful and popular preacher pastoring in the Scottish village of Innellan. Despite his flourishing ministry, there was one winter’s evening when the Sunday night crowd was miserably small. He had never worked so hard on a sermon, but the empty chairs nearly defeated him. Nevertheless, he did his best, not knowing that in the congregation was a visitor from the large St. Bernard’s Church in Edinburgh; which happened to be seeking a pastor. As a result, in 1886, he was called to pastor St. Bernard’s where he became one of England’s greatest pastors.

“Make every occasion a great occasion,” Matheson later said, You can never tell when someone may be taking your measure for a larger place.”

OH LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO

                                                                                                   George Matheson

Oh love that wilt not let me go

I rest my weary soul in Thee

I give Thee back the life I owe

That in Thine ocean depth its flow

May richer fuller be

 

Oh light that followest all my way

I yield my flickering torch to Thee

My heart restores its borrowed ray

That in They sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter fairer be

 

Oh joy that sleekest 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

 

Oh 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

 

Story from “Then Sings My Soul” Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, copyright 2003