We Could Do without “God’s Love” - Updating the Salvation Army Song Book

The Salvation Army Song Book – our denominational hymnal – is due for a revision.  We’ve been hearing rumors that an updated song book is being developed, but it’s been a long time coming.  The latest that I’ve heard is that it will be released at our big international gathering next summer.  It may be too late for me to offer my suggestions about which songs merit inclusion in the update, and which songs could be discarded.  But oh well. 

Song #47 “God’s Love” is one which, if it were cut from the new song book, I would not shed a tear.  No, not one.

It’s sung to the traditional tune My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean.  The Salvation Army has a long history of repurposing music, taking old traditional songs and putting new words to them.   Such is the case with this song.  I’m not particularly fond of this melody. I could probably accept it, if the words weren’t so trite. I don’t know who wrote it (it’s listed as anonymous) , but he/she used just about every pedestrian cliché she/he’d ever heard.

It may be true – but I hate (HATE) singing it.

1) God's love is as high as the heavens,
God's love is as deep as the sea,
God's love is for all kinds of sinners,
God's love is sufficient for me.

God's love, God's love,
God's love is sufficient for me, for me;
God's love, God's love,
God's love is sufficient for me.

2) God's love is as wide as creation,
God's love is as boundless and free,
God's love brought his Son down from Heaven,
God's love is sufficient for me.

3) God's love brought his Son down from Heaven,
God's love let him die on the tree;
God's love, it can never be measured,
God's love is sufficient for me.