"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" Story of the Song

“How deep the Father's love for us,” by Stuart Townsend, The Story of the Song

Stuart Townsend is a British Christian worship leader and writer of hymns and contemporary worship music. His songs include "In Christ Alone" (2002, co-written with Keith Getty, Townsend's first collaboration with any other songwriter),"How Deep The Father's Love For Us"(1995), "Beautiful Saviour" and "The King Of Love".

 In 2005, Cross Rhythms magazine described Townsend as "one of the most significant songwriters in the whole international Christian music field".  The Christian website Crosswalk.com commented that, "the uniqueness of Townsend’s writing lies partly in its lyrical content. There is both a theological depth and poetic expression that some say is rare in today’s worship writing". This theological depth runs in the family.

Townsend, son of a Church of England vicar in Halifax, West Yorkshire, was the youngest of four children. He studied literature at the University of Sussex. Townsend started learning to play the piano at age 7. At the age of 13, he made a Christian commitment, and began songwriting at age 22. He has led worship and performed events across the world, at many conferences and festivals.

The depth of “How Deep” derives from Ephesians 3:14-19 wherein the Apostle Paul declares:

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

There is more to the depth aspect than the theological depth of Stuart Townsend. Townsend’s touching anthem points to the depth of God's love for us, that He would sacrifice His only son to save us, and to Christ’s love that he would willingly submit. The song is a powerful reminder that "His wounds have paid my ransom."

The Prince of Prophets, Isaiah fore spoke of this depth of both suffering and love in Isaiah 53:3-5.

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.  Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 

The prophesy finds its fulfillment in the passion narrative recorded in all four Gospels.

Angela Mackey observes of both the song and the depth of Christ’s love: 

My eyes pricked with tears – tears seem to come frequently – as I choked out the words to the song. Grateful, humbling, overwhelming tears. The kind that come from deep joy, deep sorrow, and the awe of amazing grace. The joy that God would save me, the sorrow that my sin would cost Him so much, and the awe that He gave it all for me. How Deep the Father’s Love for Us we sang while taking the bread and the cup. Reminders of what He did for us. His body broken, His blood shed, to make “a wretch His treasure.” 

Hear a YouTube video presentation at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV2zMZ-nZ7k

Lyrics: How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)