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  O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO
  by George Matheson
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Summary: This sermon explores the theme of God's unwavering love and
devotion, which provides comfort and hope in times of suffering.

Topics: "Hope in Suffering", "God's Love"
Scripture References: Romans 8:38

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DESCRIPTION
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George Matheson reflects on the profound love of God that sustains and
uplifts us, even in our darkest moments. He shares the personal pain he
experienced while alone during his sister's wedding, which inspired the
creation of his hymn 'O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.' Matheson
emphasizes the themes of surrender, hope, and the transformative power
of divine love, illustrating how God's light and joy can penetrate our
suffering and lead us to a brighter future. The hymn serves as a
testament to the unwavering love of God that never lets us go, even when
we feel lost or burdened.

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CONTENT
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Matheson said about this hymn:

My hymn was com­posed in the manse of In­ne­lan [Ar­gyle­shire,
Scot­land] on the ev­en­ing of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40
years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of
my sister's mar­ri­age, and the rest of the fam­i­ly were stay­ing
over­night in Glas­gow. Some­thing hap­pened to me, which was known only
to my­self, and which caused me the most se­vere men­tal suf­fer­ing.
The hymn was the fruit of that suf­fer­ing. It was the quick­est bit of
work I ever did in my life. I had the im­press­ion of hav­ing it
dic­tat­ed to me by some in­ward voice ra­ther than of work­ing it out
my­self. I am quite sure that the whole work was com­plet­ed in five
min­utes, and equal­ly sure that it ne­ver re­ceived at my hands any
re­touch­ing or cor­rect­ion. I have no na­tur­al gift of rhy­thm. All
the other vers­es I have ever writ­ten are man­u­fact­ured ar­ti­cles;
this came like a day­spring from on high.

O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine's blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life's glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/george-matheson/o-love-that-wilt-not-let-me-go/
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