LSB 430: My Song Is Love Unknown

Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

This marvelous hymn helps us to rejoice in the reality of God's love for us sinners. Through Christ's death, God loves us to the uttermost, even though we were loveless and undeserving. The hymn traces the way that Jesus humbled Himself by taking on our humanity and suffering at the hands of the very people He had come to save. Though Jesus did not deserve such treatment, He willingly endured His passion, death, and burial in order to save us. For that reason, we sing the praises of Jesus now and into all eternity. Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/430.

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church—Friedheim, just outside Decatur, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to Lutheran Service Book #430, “My Song Is Love Unknown.”

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Lutheran Service Book 430

1 My song is love unknown,

My Savior’s love to me,

Love to the loveless shown

That they might lovely be.

Oh, who am I

That for my sake

My Lord should take

Frail flesh and die?

2 He came from His blest throne

Salvation to bestow;

But men made strange, and none

The longed-for Christ would know.

But, oh, my friend,

My Friend indeed,

Who at my need

His life did spend!

3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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.

7 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!

Text Information

First Line: My song is love unknown

Title: My Song Is Love Unknown

Author: Samuel Crossman, c. 1624-83

Meter: 66 66 4444

Language: English

Publication Date: 2006

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:1-3; Romans 5:6; Romans 5:10; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 3:13-15

Topic: Redeemer

Tune Information

Name: LOVE UNKNOWN

Composer: John N. Ireland, 1879-1962

Meter: 66 66 4444

Key: D Major

Copyright: © John Ireland Trust

Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/430.