God is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him

“God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him” is a doctrinally rich hymn by Timothy Rees, written in 1906, that centers on one of the most profound declarations of Scripture, “God is love” (1 John 4:8, KJV). Rees, a Welsh Congregational minister, was deeply concerned that Christian worship should clearly proclaim biblical truth while also engaging the heart in reverence and praise. This hymn accomplishes both by uniting theology, worship, and devotion into a single, flowing confession of faith.

The hymn opens with a call to universal adoration. Heaven and earth are summoned to worship the God whose very nature is love. This is not a sentimental or abstract love, but a holy, sovereign, and redemptive love that governs all of God’s actions. The text carefully balances God’s tenderness with His majesty, reflecting the biblical portrait of the Lord as both compassionate and righteous. Psalm 103 describes Him as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 103:8, KJV), and these qualities are echoed throughout the hymn.

As the hymn unfolds, God’s love is shown to be the foundation of creation, providence, and redemption. Rees emphasizes that God’s love is not earned by humanity but freely given, flowing from His eternal character. This love is patient with human weakness, faithful in discipline, and purposeful in guiding His people toward holiness. The hymn therefore teaches that divine love does not excuse sin but seeks to restore and transform the sinner.

There is also a strong Christ centered focus implied in the hymn’s theology. God’s love finds its clearest expression in the work of redemption, which naturally leads the worshipper toward praise and obedience. The language of adoration points forward to the heavenly worship described in Revelation, where all creation joins in honoring the Lamb for His saving work (Revelation 5:12–13, KJV). In this sense, the hymn connects present worship with eternal praise.

“God Is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him” serves both as a statement of belief and a call to worship. It reminds the Church that love is not merely one attribute among many, but a defining truth about God Himself. Rooted firmly in Scripture, the hymn invites believers to respond to divine love with awe, trust, and wholehearted devotion.