Wide, Wide as the Ocean

Words: Charles Austin Miles (b. Jan. 7, 1868; d. March 10, 1946)
Music: Charles Austin Miles

Note: This blog is mostly focused on our traditional hymns and gospel songs. However, I’ve departed from that defining purpose once in a while, to include songs of historical significance (e.g. Caedmon’s Hymn), or choruses that have a connection with hymn writers known for other work (e.g. Al Smith’s For God So Loved the World).

The present little song falls in the latter category. As noted in a previous post, Austin Miles contributed hundreds of gospel songs during his career as a Christian musician. For thirty-seven years, he was editor and manager of the Hall-Mack Publishing Company (which eventually merged with the Rodeheaver Company). Mr. Miles was also in demand as a music director in churches, camp meetings and Christian conventions.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

It is a little strange that of the hundreds of songs Austin Miles has given us, In the Garden should be, by far, the best-known and most popular. This song was inspired by the meeting of Mary Magdelene with the risen Christ (Jn. 20:11-18). However, it does little more than reflect an emotion. Its details are few–and sometimes erroneous or questionable. It is decidedly weak, yet it is requested again and again.

Two years after publishing the latter song, the hymn writer gave us Wide, Wide as the Ocean. Without question, there is more important truth in these few lines that there is in all of the song just mentioned.

Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above;
Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love.
I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care;
For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere.

This is usually considered a children’s song (though the word “child” could certainly refer to a child of God of any age). In keeping with its use with children, it is an action chorus, with optional motions to accompany the words. In asking around, I’ve found that the actions taught vary slightly from one group to another. But here’s a possible way to do it.

Wide, wide as the ocean, [extend arms sideways]
High as the heavens above; [point up]
Deep, deep as the deepest sea [point down]
Is my Saviour’s love. [point up again]
I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care; [point to self]
For His Word teaches me [hold up Bible, or put palms together and open them, as opening a book]
That His love reaches me everywhere. [spread arms apart]

Now, what about the actual content of the chorus? In that regard, it reminds us of some wonderful blessings. The opening lines were likely inspired by the words in Ephesians. Paul prays:

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ which passes [surpasses] knowledge.

Eph. 2:17-19

To know the infinite love of the Lord fully is not possible for finite human beings. But to come to understand and appreciate it more fully than we do is a worthy goal. It should thrill us as it did Paul that “the Son of God…loved [us] and gave Himself for [us]” (Gal. 2:20). “Having loved His own…He loved them to the end [i.e. completely, to the uttermost, to the fullest possible extent]” (Jn. 13:1).

Who could question that we are “so unworthy” of such love? But that is where grace comes in, the unmerited favour of God. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I Jn. 4:10).

The love of the Lord is a caring love. “He cares for you” (I Pet. 5:7). “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you” (Ps. 55:22). “”The LORD is my helper” (Heb. 13:6). And as the chorus says, “His love reaches me everywhere.” The Lord Jesus promised His followers, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Finally, what is our source of information on these things? I’ve already indicated it by the quotations included about; it’s the inspired Word of the living God. “His Word teaches me,” says Mr. Miles. Our Christian faith is not founded on man-made theories, or idle notions. We anchor our confidence in the unfailing promises of God.

All of that, Austin Miles proclaims in forty-two simple words!

Questions:

1. What other short choruses do you know and use that have strong biblical content?
2. What hymns do you know that help us to rejoice in the fullness of God’s love?

Links:

• 7 January 1868 – Austin Miles Born
• Wide, Wide As The Ocean (The Cyber Hymnal)