While reading through several hymns this morning, I stumbled on a beautiful hymn by O.W. Holmes. I first thought of the Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes, but after research, I discovered that this hymn was written by the father of Justice Holmes, the Doctor and Professor at Harvard. This hymn spoke to me today as it reflects of the greatness of God whose is greater than even the cosmos, but all the while “to each loving heart now near.” In a world where it is trendy to speak about “the universe” and its effect on human life, this hymn reminds us that God is even more powerful than the universe and presents a beautiful picture of a Holy and Mighty God who loves us enough to come near and listen.
Lord of all being throned afar,
Thy glory flames from sun and star;
Center and soul of every sphere,
Yet to each loving heart now near.
Sun of our life, thy quickening ray
Sheds on our path the glow of day;
Star of our hope, thy softening light
Cheers the long watches of night.
Lord of all life, below, above,
Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love,
Before thy ever-blazing throne
We ask no luster of our own.
Grant us thy truth to make us free,
And kindling hearts that burn for thee,
Till all thy living altars claim
One holy light, one heav’nly flame.
—–
Photo by Nelson Santos Jr on Unsplash
Hymn by O.W. Holmes 1848; from “New Baptist Hymnal”, 1926
For more information and reference see his reference on Hymnary.org.