O teach me, Lord, its meaning

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Psalms 86:5
  • Isaiah 53:3
  • Matthew 11:28-30
  • Matthew 16:26
  • Mark 14:64
  • Mark 8:36-37
  • Luke 18:13-14
  • Luke 24:20
  • Luke 5:8
  • John 19:34-35
  • John 6:37
  • John 7:37-39
  • Romans 3:25
  • Romans 7:14-18
  • 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
  • 1 Timothy 1:15
  • Hebrews 9:15
  • 1 Peter 1:9
  • 1 John 3:20
  • 1 John 4:19
Book Number:
  • 440

O teach me, Lord, its meaning,
that cross uplifted high,
with one, the Man of sorrows,
condemned to bleed and die!
O teach me what it cost you
to make a sinner whole;
and teach me, Saviour, teach me
the value of a soul.

2. O teach me, Lord, its meaning,
that sacred, crimson tide,
the blood and water flowing
from your own wounded side.
Teach me that if no other
had sinned, but I alone,
yet still your blood, Lord Jesus,
yours only, must atone.

3. O teach me, Lord, its meaning,
your love beyond compare,
the love that reaches deeper
than depths of self-despair!
Yes, teach me, till there’s glowing
in this cold heart of mine
some feeble, pale reflection
of purest love divine.

4. O teach me, Lord, its meaning,
for I am full of sin,
and grace alone can reach me,
and love alone can win.
O teach me, for I need you,
I have no hope beside:
the chief of all the sinners
for whom the Saviour died!

5. O infinite Redeemer!
I bring no other plea;
because your word invites me
my Saviour you shall be;
because, Lord, you accept me
I love and I adore;
because your love compels me,
I’ll praise you evermore!

Lucy A Bennett 1850-1927

The Son - His Suffering and Death

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Tune

The story behind the hymn

Lucy Ann Bennett’s one contribution to this book, as to several others, formerly began O teach me what it meaneth. It was felt that the text had much to offer in spite of the oddness of its first line, repeated in stzs 2–4; this may consciously echo the AV of Acts 2:12 (and some more negative texts), but increasingly requires interpretation itself. The decision was made to redraft accordingly. The other significant change comes at 5.4, originally ‘I cast myself on thee’. The hymn is dated 1895 in one edn of the \,i.Church Hymnal for the Christian Year. Golden Bells is among other older hymnals to include it, and it survives in several evangelical books and in MP; at some points (3.3–4; 5.6–7) it even strikes a contemporary note. The ‘distinctive request’ of 2.5–8 has been noted by many. Its scriptural roots and references are unmistakable, including Isaiah 53:3, John 19:34 and 1 Timothy 1:15.

The tunes set to the hymn have varied, with RUTHERFORD (907) a consistent favourite. For notes on Linda Mawson’s ELSTREE HILL, see 101.

A look at the author

Bennett, Lucy Ann

b Thornbury, Glos 1850, d Falfield, nr Thornbury, Glos 1927. One of the less-known authors credited with one memorable hymn, which appeared in Golden Bells and by 2000 had featured in at least 8 other books, all from evangelical sources, including Christian Praise, Christian Worship, CH and GH. No.440.