Samuel Medley, 1738–1799
Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Psalm 73:25)
The distinctiveness of the Christian faith is that it focuses all of its teachings and emphasis on a single person, Jesus Christ—the God-man. All that we really know about our heavenly Father is learned from this One who lived among us for 33 years.
Some people speak eloquently about the Fatherhood of God yet seldom extol the virtues of Christ. But without a biblical knowledge of Christ and a personal relationship with Him, our understanding of God the Father would be incomplete. The Scriptures teach that Christ was the visible representation of the invisible Godhead (John 14:9).
Samuel Medley served in the British Royal Navy until he was wounded in battle at the age of 21. While recuperating from his injury, he was converted to Christ as he was reading a sermon by Isaac Watts. Soon Medley felt the call of God to the ministry and pastored several Baptist churches, including one in Liverpool, where he was especially successful, particularly in work with young sailors.
This hymn text first appeared in Medley’s hymnal of 1789. It was originally titled “Praise of Jesus,” and it presents a rich picture of our Lord. It extols His matchless worth, unfathomable to the human mind; His redemptive work; His characters and many forms of love; His righteousness; and the fact that He will one day receive us to an eternal heavenly home.
O could I speak the matchless worth, O could I sound the glories forth which in my Savior shine, I’d soar and touch the heav’nly strings, and vie with Gabriel while he sings in notes almost divine, in notes almost divine.
I’d sing the precious blood He spilt, my ransom from the dreadful guilt of sin and wrath divine! I’d sing His glorious righteousness, in which all perfect heav’nly dress my soul shall ever shine, my soul shall ever shine.
I’d sing the characters He bears, and all the forms of love He wears, exalted on His throne: In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days make all His glories known, make all His glories known.
Well, the delightful day will come when my dear Lord will bring me home and I shall see His face; then with my Savior, Brother, Friend, a blest eternity I’ll spend, triumphant in His grace, triumphant in His grace.
For Today: Psalm 73:21–28; Matthew 14:33; 27:54; 28:18; Philippians 2:9–11
Spend a few moments delighting yourself in Christ alone. Then sing as you go—
Osbeck, K. W.
- Certainly mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee. Yet I was always with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and I hae desired none in the earth with thee. My flesh faileth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion forever. For lo, that they withdraw themselves from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that go a whoring from thee. As for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: therefore I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:21-28
- Then they that wer in the ship, came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. Matthew 14:33
- When the Centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earth quake, and the things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matthew 27:54
- And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me, in heaven, and in earth. Matthew 28:18
- Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name. That at the Name of Jesus should every knee bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue shouold confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, unto the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
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