“The Love of God”: Medieval Prayer to Modern Hymn

If you were to ask me which religious song inspired me the most this past year, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer, The Love of God.  This hymn, written in 1917 by F.M. Lehman, has inspired countless generations to reflect on the sheer magnitude of God’s love for us, and has always been a personal favorite of mine.  A few months ago, however, a co-worker asked if I knew the story behind this hymn.  The more research I did, the more amazed I became at the miraculous way that God has put this hymn together through the centuries.

Tracing the history of this timeless hymn is nothing short of inspiring:

A Medieval Prayer

Akdamut Millan is an 11^th century Hebrew poem that was written by Rabbi Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai – a cantor, or “synagogue singer,” from Worms, Germany.  The poem’s title can be literally translated as “Introductory Words,” and…