That priceless gift what tongue can tell

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Daniel 7:18
  • Matthew 11:4-5
  • Matthew 24:30-51
  • Matthew 26:64
  • Matthew 28:1-8
  • Mark 1:14-15
  • Mark 7:31-37
  • Mark 13:26-37
  • Mark 14:62
  • Mark 16:1-6
  • Luke 4:18-19
  • Luke 7:21-22
  • Luke 24:1-8
  • John 1:43
  • John 5:24-26
  • John 12:26
  • John 17:24
  • John 20:1-10
  • Acts 2:23-24
  • 1 Corinthians 15:22-23
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • 2 Corinthians 9:15
  • Ephesians 3:17-19
  • Philippians 2:6-8
  • 1 Thessalonians 3:13
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
  • 1 Timothy 1:17
  • 1 Timothy 3:16
  • Hebrews 7:26
  • 1 Peter 1:19-20
  • 1 Peter 2:22-24
  • 1 John 3:5
  • Revelation 1:7
  • Revelation 1:18
  • Revelation 13:8
Book Number:
  • 404

That priceless gift what tongue can tell?
Marvel and mystery, man and God:
from highest heaven to lowest earth,
the Father’s Son, a servant’s birth:
our life he lived, our path he trod.

2. That sinless life, what pen can draw?
Holy perfection, tried and true;
to heal the blind, the deaf, the lame.
Dead souls, arise! Dumb lips, proclaim
that Christ has brought good news to you.

3. That saving cross what mind can probe?
Love’s length and depth and height and breadth;
before the world of time and space,
the Lamb ordained to take our place,
immortal God in mortal death.

4. That empty tomb what joy can match-
the angels’ word beyond belief?
‘See here, the place they laid his head,
the living Lord who once was dead’-
and Jesus lives to still our grief!

5. That mighty hope all hopes above:
in clouds of glory see him come!
When saints shall rise with one accord
to be forever with the Lord;
when Jesus comes to take us home.

© Mrs C Motyer-Lowndes
J Alec Motyer

The Son - His Life and Ministry

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Tune

The story behind the hymn

As with the previous hymn, an NT text leads us into its theme; ‘Thanks be to God for his gift beyond words!’—2 Corinthains 9:15. Like Leith Samuel (233), J Alec Motyer has two texts in this book, both men having begun to write hymns when approaching or enjoying retirement from a ministry of preaching, pastoring, Bible-teaching and authorship. This one, written in 1988 at Nant Coch Church (Christian Brethren) in Newport, Monmouth, ‘was prompted by thoughts contributed by church members round the Lord’s Table, as we broke bread together’. It was first sung at St Chad’s Church, Handforth, Ches, at a carol service on 21 Dec 1997. As with (the otherwise unconnected) 233, this was offered to the editorial team and subsequently shared with those working on Sing Glory, where it was first published (with ‘The’ to begin stz 4, probably in error) in 1999.

Two tunes were composed for the hymn; the writer’s daughter Catherine Motyer Lowndes wrote THAT PRICELESS GIFT, to which it was first sung, and set in SG; for Praise! Linda Mawson’s PRICELESS GIFT is offered. The 2nd tune was written from a sense of ‘wonder at the Lord’s condescension’, as the composer found the words so moving; it was introduced at Crofton Baptist Church, Orpington, by a ladies’ singing group. Clearly, care is needed with the tune names.

A look at the author

Motyer, John Alexander (Alec)

b Dublin 1924. d 2016. The High School, Dublin and Trinity Coll, Univ of Dublin; MA, BD, with several prizes, and Lambeth DD (1997). Ordained (CofE) in 1947, he served curacies in Penn Fields (Wolverhampton) and at Holy Trinity Ch, Bristol; he was Tutor, then Vice-principal of Clifton Theol Coll Bristol 1950–65. After a period back in parish life as Vicar of St Luke W Hampstead he returned to Bristol as Deputy Principal of Tyndale Hall 1970–71, and Principal of the new (amalgamated) Trinity Coll 1971–81. He was also a visiting Prof in OT at the Reformed Theological Seminary at Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He then became the Minister at Westbourne (Bournemouth, 1981–89) until retirement at Bishopsteignton, Teignmouth, Devon in 1990, moving later to Poynton, Ches. Few men of his generation have taught so many Anglican ordinands while also having parish experience and academic distinction; of a clearly Reformed stamp, for more than 40 years he has also been an occasional speaker at the Keswick Convention and some of its overseas equivalents. The author of an early ‘Tyndale monograph’ on Exod 6, The Revelation of the Divine Name (1959), a ‘Hodder Christian paperback’ After Death (1965), and a major commentary on Isaiah (1993), he has also contributed to Bible and Theological Dictionaries and written on Amos, James, Philippians, Zephaniah and Haggai, Psalms, Exodus, (‘A scenic route through the OT’ and ‘The days of our pilgrimage’), on the OT in general (Discovering the Old Testament) and (with his son Stephen) on Thessalonians. Nos.404, 655, 1021, 1022.