Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family.

Today I want to share a not familiar hymn; “Thee Will I Love, My Strength” by Johann Scheffler (1624-1677).  This hymn was popular among Moravians, and probably was introduce to John and Charles Wesley by them.

At this point of his life, John Wesley was a minister of the Church of England, working for the Lord but not loving the Lord.  Years later, in a trip to Georgia with his brother Charles, he met these faithful Christians, the Moravians; he was impressed because he can see a great joy in their faith and they were always singing.

When he returned to England he felt the “sacred fire” in 1738, a real conversion for him.  He was not a hymn writer like his brother Charles, but he translated many hymns, like this particular one from its original German language.

Thee will I love, my strength, my tower;
Thee will I love, my hope, my joy.
Thee will I love with all my power,
With ardor time shall ne'er destroy.
Thee will I love, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine.

Thee will I love, my life, my Savior,
Who art my best and truest friend.
Thee will I love and praise forever,
For never shall Thy kindness end.
Thee will I love with all my heart--
Thou my Redeemer art!

I thank Thee, Jesus, Sun from heaven,
Whose radiance hath brought light to me;
I thank Thee, who hast richly given
All that could make me glad and free;
I thank Thee that my soul is healed
By what Thy lips revealed.

Thee will I love, my crown of gladness,
Thee will I love, my God and Lord,
Amid the darkest depths of sadness,
And not for hope of high reward,
For Thine own sake, O Light divine,
So long as life is mine.

In His service.

Israel.