Here I Am Lord
Backgrounder: When The United
Methodist Hymnal was published
in 1989, one of the most popular
hymns was Here I Am, Lord (1981)
by Daniel Schutte (b. 1947). Many
Protestants are unaware that this
hymn represents Roman Catholic
renewal music resulting from the
2nd Vatican Council (1962-1965).
Schutte is a native of Wisconsin.
He received his master of divinity
degree in 1979 at the Jesuit
School of Theology, Berkeley.
Following graduation, Mr. Schutte
served as the director of liturgy
at Marquette Univ (1982-1986)
and then entered parish ministry
in two Milwaukee parishes.
An unusual attribute of this hymn
is the change in point of view
that the singer makes between
the stanzas and the refrain.
The stanzas speak from the
perspective of God in the first
person singular, while the refrain,
though remaining in first person,
is from the perspective of
the singers of the hymn
offering their lives to God.
Lord, we offer our lives to You:
In the year that King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord sitting on a throne..
So I said: Woe is me… Because
I am a man of unclean lips…
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of Hosts. Then one of
the seraphim flew to me, having
in his hand a live coal from the
altar. And he touched my mouth
with it and said: Your iniquity is
taken away. And your sin purged.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord,
saying: Whom shall I send. And
who will go for US. Then I said:
Here am I, send me (Isa 6:1-8).
Lord, whenever I sense Your holy
presence, I am greatly aware of
my own unworthiness. And that
makes me even more grateful for
how much You sacrificed for us,
so that I can come to Your throne
with confidence and find Your
mercy and grace in time of need.
Touch me and purify me, and
help me to separate myself from
all that is unholy, unpleasing to U.
And help us to have a tender
heart to respond positively to
your perfect plans for our lives,
so that we do the good works
that you have prepared for us &
live a life of destiny for your glory.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night
I will make the darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them
Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am Lord; Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord; If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.
I the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone
Fill their hearts with love alone
I will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?
Backgrounder: When The United
Methodist Hymnal was published
in 1989, one of the most popular
hymns was Here I Am, Lord (1981)
by Daniel Schutte (b. 1947). Many
Protestants are unaware that this
hymn represents Roman Catholic
renewal music resulting from the
2nd Vatican Council (1962-1965).
Schutte is a native of Wisconsin.
He received his master of divinity
degree in 1979 at the Jesuit
School of Theology, Berkeley.
Following graduation, Mr. Schutte
served as the director of liturgy
at Marquette Univ (1982-1986)
and then entered parish ministry
in two Milwaukee parishes.
An unusual attribute of this hymn
is the change in point of view
that the singer makes between
the stanzas and the refrain.
The stanzas speak from the
perspective of God in the first
person singular, while the refrain,
though remaining in first person,
is from the perspective of
the singers of the hymn
offering their lives to God.
Lord, we offer our lives to You:
In the year that King Uzziah died,
I saw the Lord sitting on a throne..
So I said: Woe is me… Because
I am a man of unclean lips…
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of Hosts. Then one of
the seraphim flew to me, having
in his hand a live coal from the
altar. And he touched my mouth
with it and said: Your iniquity is
taken away. And your sin purged.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord,
saying: Whom shall I send. And
who will go for US. Then I said:
Here am I, send me (Isa 6:1-8).
Lord, whenever I sense Your holy
presence, I am greatly aware of
my own unworthiness. And that
makes me even more grateful for
how much You sacrificed for us,
so that I can come to Your throne
with confidence and find Your
mercy and grace in time of need.
Touch me and purify me, and
help me to separate myself from
all that is unholy, unpleasing to U.
And help us to have a tender
heart to respond positively to
your perfect plans for our lives,
so that we do the good works
that you have prepared for us &
live a life of destiny for your glory.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night
I will make the darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them
Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am Lord; Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord; If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.
I the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone
Fill their hearts with love alone
I will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?