My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown
The hymn embodies Lutheran theology's emphasis on Christ as the substitutionary sacrifice for human sin, particularly through the lens of Isaiah's Suffering Servant passage. It reflects the Law-Gospel contrast central to Lutheran anthropology and soteriology, highlighting human unworthiness before God's mysterious and sacrificial love.
History & Background
Written by Samuel Crossman, an English divine, and first published in his devotional work 'The Young Man's Meditation' (1664). The text became widely used in Anglican and later Protestant hymnody, particularly during Lenten and Passion seasons.
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 208
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 631
- Glory to God — 209
- The Hymnal 1982 — 458
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 94
- Lutheran Service Book — 430
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 172
- Lutheran Worship — 91
- New Century Hymnal — 222
- Trinity Hymnal — 182
- Voices Together — 253
- With One Voice — 661
Bulletin Note
Samuel Crossman (1624–1683) crafted this meditation on Christ's passion for private devotion. The hymn's power lies in its unflinching witness to human sin alongside the staggering persistence of divine love—core to Lutheran understanding of grace.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Law-Gospel tension by moving singers from recognition of human cruelty and sin to doxological amazement at God's substitutionary love, making it a powerful liturgical response to proclamation of both judgment and grace.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From God's eternal love hidden before creation, through Christ's incarnation and atoning sacrifice, to the believer's joyful response in Christ
Themes
Christ's suffering and redemption God's incomprehensible love Human sinfulness and Christ's sacrifice The Passion of Christ