I Cannot Tell Why

I Cannot Tell Why

Text written by W. Y. Fullerton (1857-1932)

Sung to LONDONDERRY AIR, an Irish melody arranged by John Barnard (b. 1948)

Luke 2:37, 39 ...And then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying....When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Luke 15:4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

V. 1 I cannot tell why He whom angels worship

Should set His love upon the souls of men,

Or why as Shepherd He should seek the wanderers,

To bring them back, they know not how nor when.

But this I know that He was born of Mary

When Bethlehem's manger was His only home,

And that He lived at Nazareth and labored;

And so the Savior, Savior of the world, has come.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

V. 2 I cannot tell how silently He suffered

As with His peace He graced this place of tears,

Nor how His heart upon the cross was broken,

The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know He heals the broken hearted

And stays our sin and calms our lurking fear,

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden;

For still the Savior, Savior of the world, is here.

Luke 3:6 And all people will see God’s salvation.

V. 3 I cannot tell how He will win the nations,

How He will claim His earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations

Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know all flesh shall see His glory,

And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,

And some glad day His sun will shine in splendor

When He the Savior, Savior of the world, is known.

Matthew 8:26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

V. 4 I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

When at His bidding every storm is stilled,

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all our hearts with love for Him are filled.

But this I know the skies shall sound His praises,

Ten thousand thousand human voices sing,

And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth will answer,

At last the Savior, Savior of the world, is King!