Here Is Love Vast as the Ocean

The Story behind "Here Is Love Vast as the Ocean"

William Rees (1802-1883) was a nineteenth-century Congregationalist minister who was renowned as a preacher and speaker. When he was a young boy, Rees learned Welsh poetry, and he won various prizes for his compositions. Rees’s endeavors also included journalism and fiction, so he was also well-versed in prose. Rees was also known for his “strict-metre” compositions. LitCharts defines strict-metre as “poems or musical works that adhere rigidly to a pre-defined, consistent, and repeating rhythmic structure (meter) throughout. This involves strict syllable counts or a consistent pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables (metrical feet) in every line, creating a highly organized, predictable, and often hypnotic sound.” This style most certainly aided Minister Rees as he wrote poetry that would be set to music in many hymns.

William Williams (1781-1840) is known as Wales’ most famous hymn writer. He is credited with over 900 hymns and has also been named Wales’ first romantic poet. Writer Chris Clarke tells us that venerable preacher Martyn Lloyd Jones wrote of Williams, “Certain literary authorities in Wales who are not Christians themselves are ready to grant that he is in their judgement the greatest of all the Welsh poets.” He goes on to say “that this is something of very real significance, because here you have such an outstanding natural poet now under the influence of the Holy Spirit writing these incomparable hymns.”

When looking at the final two stanzas of “Here is Love Vast as the Ocean,” we can see his grasp of God’s sovereignty and the salvation that comes only through Christ. We also see his focus on the Christian’s safety as held by Christ. Williams translated “Here is Love Vast as the Ocean” in 1900.

Robert Lowry (1826-1899) was an American pastor and hymnwriter who spent most of his years in the States, only visiting Europe in 1880 -1884. Lowry also composed “Nothing But the Blood” and “Shall We Gather at the River.”

Rees’ hymn made quite an emotional impact during the Welsh Revival of 1904-05. Writing about the revival, writer Roy Jenkins says, “Just after eleven o'clock on a Wednesday evening in 1904, a solo voice rang out with the hymn Here is love vast as the ocean. Maybe a thousand people were in Ebenezer Baptist Church, Abertillery at the time, leaning over the galleries, packing every pew and squeezing into every spare corner. They'd been here for more than four hours, in a service of intense emotion.” What they sang were the first two stanzas of the hymn, which became known as the “Love Song of the Welsh Revival.”

“Here is Love Vast as the Ocean” is not included in many hymnals today, yet its beauty soars through the lyrics and music.

According to Hymnary.org, the following are Scripture passages for "Here is Love Vast as the Ocean": Psalm 85:1, Psalm 85:9-11, Psalm 86:10-11, Psalm 103:8-12, Zechariah 13:1, Matthew 6:31-34, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 28:2-6, Mark 10:45, John 1:16-18, John 3:16, John 15:13, Acts 3:13-16, Romans 1:2-4, Romans 3:23-26, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:11-21, Colossians 1:19-20, 1 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 3:13, 1 John 4:10-16, and Revelation 1:5-6.

Many lyricists take the freedom to change lyrics. Christian musicians often use Scripture to change or add lyrics. It’s not wrong, for often the re-wording of lyrics adds more meaning for a modern audience. Such is the case with the Gettys, who famously recorded “Here is Love Vast as the Ocean.” The following are the last two stanzas as written and recorded by Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Stanza Three

On the morn of resurrection
Mercy filled the thirsty grave
Where the stone of death burst open
Springs of life flowed unrestrained
Love no heart could ever measure
Joy no sorrows will outrun
Rush upon the soul believing
In the risen, reigning Son.

Stanza 4

Oh this love, vast love of Jesus
Bids us come and drink and live
To this weary world of longing
What more could our Savior give
Now to Christ who fully loved us
And who freed us from our sin
Be all glory and dominion
Everlasting praise to Him.

When we reflect on a hymn such as “Here is Love Vast as the Ocean,” we can praise God for:

• His vast love for us
• His kindness toward us
• Jesus putting on flesh and dying on the cross to atone for our sins that we may have life eternal in His name and in His presence.
• Praising Him every day from now to forever
• God’s mercy
• God’s grace
• His truth
• His Spirit
• His Word
• Our salvation and freedom in Christ
• His glory
• His faithfulness
   

And we can thank God for the many hymn writers who help us express our love and thankfulness to our Savior.

Popular Hymn Lyrics with Story and Meaning

Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment
Jesus Loves Me
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Blessed Assurance
Nearer My God to Thee
Abide with Me
His Eye Is On the Sparrow
Be Thou My Vision
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
Amazing Grace
And more!