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"My Song Is Love Unknown"
Jesus. This intimate devotional poem is filled with powerful literary twists that contrast Jesus' life with the way he was misunderstood and mistreated by those he came to save. "Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be." Wow! MY SONG IS LOVE UNKNOWN My song is love unknown, My Savior's love to me, Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O who am I, That for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die? He came from His blest throne, Salvation to bestow; But men made strange, and none The longed-for Christ would know. But O, my Friend, My Friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend! Sometimes they strew His way, And His sweet praises sing; Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King. Then: "CRUCIFY!" Is all their breath, And for His death they thirst and cry. Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite? He made the lame to run, He gave the blind their sight. Sweet injuries! Yet they at these Themselves displease and 'gainst Him rise. They rise, and needs will have My dear Lord made away; A murderer they save, The Prince of Life they slay. Yet cheerful He To suff'ring goes, That He His foes from thence might free. In life, no house, no home My Lord on earth might have; In death no friendly tomb But what a stranger gave. What may I say? Heav'n was His home; But mine the tomb wherein he lay. Here might I stay and sing, No story so divine; Never was love, dear King, Never was grief like Thine. This is my Friend, In whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend. - by Samuel Crossman (c. 1624-1683) [It is so chilling and humbling for me to imagine myself as a part of the Jerusalem crowd that so easily shouted glorious praises to Jesus, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"; and then to realize that my fickle friends and I would be calling for his death a few short days later. This hurts! "No story so divine." May I invite you to read the poem again, and notice the poet's posture of worship in the final stanza.] Have a great Holy Week. May it be one in which Christ's amazing love is very real to you. Chip Stam Pastor of Worship and Music Chapel Hill Bible Church Chapel Hill, North Carolina |