The Love of God

Frederick M. Lehman (1868–1953) was a German-born American hymn writer, pastor, and composer whose life and work were deeply marked by a passionate devotion to Christ and a desire to express the love of God through sacred song.

Frederick Martin Lehman was born on August 7, 1868, in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany. At the age of four, he emigrated with his family to the United States, settling in Iowa, where he spent much of his childhood. It was there, at the age of eleven, that he experienced a profound personal conversion. He later described this moment in vivid and poetic language, recalling how the ordinary surroundings of a country lane were transformed in his perception into a scene filled with divine glory. This early encounter with Christ left a lasting impression on his spiritual life and would later shape the tone and depth of his hymn writing.

Lehman pursued theological training at Northwestern College in Naperville, Illinois, preparing for pastoral ministry. He served as a pastor in several places, including Audubon, Iowa; New London, Indiana; and Kansas City, Missouri. Though he labored faithfully in ministry, much of his life’s influence came through his work as a writer and composer of gospel songs. His first hymn was written in 1898 while he was serving in Kingsley, Iowa, and from that point forward, he devoted himself extensively to sacred music.

Over the course of his life, Lehman wrote and published hundreds of hymns and compiled several songbooks. In 1911, he moved to Kansas City, where he played a role in founding the Nazarene Publishing House, contributing to the spread of gospel music within the Holiness movement. His hymns are characterized by their heartfelt expression, strong evangelical message, and focus on the love and grace of God.

Lehman is best remembered for the beloved hymn “The Love of God,” which beautifully reflects the immeasurable and eternal nature of divine love. The third stanza of this hymn is especially notable, having been adapted from a Jewish poem and expressing the truth that God’s love cannot be fully captured even if the entire ocean were ink and the sky a scroll. This hymn echoes the spirit of Romans 8:38-39, which declares that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

He spent his later years in California and died on February 20, 1953, in Pasadena. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. Frederick M. Lehman’s legacy endures through his hymns, which continue to inspire believers to reflect on the greatness of God’s love and to respond with worship and gratitude.