737愛何大,尋回我

愛何大,尋回我 - 詩歌第737首

In tenderness He sought me

選編自網路

詞:華頓(W. Spencer Walton,1850-1906)

曲:高登(Adoniram Judson Gordon,1836-1895)

當我疲困罪惡境,祂以柔愛來尋,

懷我、肩我滿溫情,帶我歸祂羊群;

千萬天使因此歡騰,甚至歌聲滿天響應。

In tenderness He sought me,

Weary and sick with sin;

And on His shoulders brought me

Back to His fold again.

While angels in His presence sang

Until the courts of Heaven rang.

(副歌)

Refrain

愛何大,尋回我!血何寶,贖回我!

恩何豐,帶回我歸羊群!

奇妙恩,帶回我歸羊群!

Oh, the love that sought me!

Oh, the blood that bought me!

Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold,

Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold.

傷重待斃祂見我,便以油酒敷裹;

柔聲細語許我說:『你要永遠屬我!』

從無聲音如此甜美,傷痛之心頓覺欣慰!

He washed the bleeding sin wounds,

And poured in oil and wine;

He whispered to assure me,

“I’ve found thee, thou art Mine”;

I never heard a sweeter voice;

It made my aching heart rejoice!

釘痕槍傷祂示我,血也水也流出,

頭戴荊冕利刺戳,羞辱加上痛楚:

我真不知我有何長,使祂為我這樣受戕。

He pointed to the nail prints,

For me His blood was shed,

A mocking crown so thorny

Was placed upon His head;

I wondered what He saw in me,

To suffer such deep agony.

我今安坐祂面前,瞻仰祂的容顏,

心覺希奇靈感讚,追憶祂的恩眷;

似乎永世所有時間,用來讚祂尚嫌太短。

I’m sitting in His presence,

The sunshine of His face,

While with adoring wonder

His blessings I retrace.

It seems as if eternal days

Are far too short to sound His praise.

當今時日在逝遜,一切皆能安心;

惟獨盼望那早晨-無上光明時辰:

那時召我到祂身邊,與祂同在,作祂聖伴。

So while the hours are passing,

All now is perfect rest,

I’m waiting for the morning,

The brightest and the best,

When He will call us to His side,

To be with Him, His spotless bride.

這首詩歌 的作者是華頓 (W. Spencer Walton, 1850~1906)。他是一位十分神秘的詩人,我們對他知道的不多。他的詩比他的名字更響亮。他是一位感覺非常細膩的人,與主之間交通的親密可以從他的詩歌看出來。高登(A.J.Gordon)為它譜了一首優柔的曲子。詞與曲在高登去世前一年,收集在高登和皮爾遜為浸信會所編的詩集《The Coronation Hymnal》。

高登(Adoniram Judson Gordon,)出生於新罕布什爾州,紐約布朗大學神學博士,是美國浸信會著名的牧師。多年來一直致力於發掘新的聖詩,讓信徒吟唱。本詩歌是從他於1870年出版的《The London Hymn Book》中所挑選出來的。因他被其中的歌詞所吸引,但對該詩的旋律並不滿意,有一天,腦海中突然浮現出一段詠嘆調的靈感,於是他立即配上本詩的歌詞,因而成就了這首〈妙愛找我〉,並於1876年出版。高登同時也是當時著名的佈道家慕迪(Moody)的同工,協助福音佈道團選詞、教唱與領詩的工作。

本詩是依據《路加福音》十九章10節:「人子來,是要尋找拯救失喪的人」而寫,這也呼應了《路加福音》在十五章4~6、10節所述:「你們中間誰有一百隻羊,失去其中的一隻,不把這九十九隻撇在曠野,去找那失去的,直到找著麼?找著了,就歡歡喜喜的扛在自己肩上,回到家裡,召齊朋友、鄰舍,對他們說:『和我一同歡喜罷,因為我失去的那隻羊已經找著了。』我告訴你們,一個罪人悔改,在神的使者面前,也是這樣為他歡喜。」