Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family.  Today I want to tell you about George Matheson.  Probably this name means nothing to you, but maybe his hymn has touched you very deeply; I will let you know which hymn I am talking about.

Matheson was a Scottish minister and hymn writer.  Born in Glasgow, to George Matheson, a merchant and Jane Matheson (a second cousin), he was the eldest of eight.  He went to Glasgow Academy and to the University of Glasgow.  Sadly, in his twenties he became a blind man, and his sister became his helper.

But years before this situation, George was engaged, but sadly his fiancé broke the engagement because she didn’t want to be part of a blind man’s life.  He was heartbroken.

For years, with his preaching and his sister’s help, he was able to handle his depressions, but his sister got engaged herself, and on her wedding day he understood that his lovely helper would be  leaving him as well.  On this day, in this very depressing moment he received inspiration for a new hymn; a new hymn with comforting lyrics. The name of the hymn…  "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"

O 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 depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I climb the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O 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.

In His service.

Israel.