Matt Gilman - Awaken Love Lyrics
Lyrics
From eternity Lord, You dreamed of me
From eternity You loved me completely
I want my heart to burn within me (be the flame inside me)
I want to love You like You love me (completely)
I want my heart to burn within me
Awaken love (set Your seal upon my heart Jesus)
Waters cannot quench love, floods cannot drown it
Love is strong as death as jealous as the grave
This was the joy set before You
That you would have my heart forever
Video
Awaken Love (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
Matt Gilman's "Awaken Love (Live)," released on November 8, 2014, offers a profound and deeply personal exploration of divine love and the human response to it, rooted firmly in Christian theology. The song’s narrative begins by looking back to the ultimate origin of love: from all eternity, before time itself began, God’s thoughts were on us, and His love was complete. This echoes the Apostle Paul's profound declaration in Ephesians 1:4 that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,” signifying a love that predates our existence and is utterly unconditional. The lyrics then transition to a fervent desire, a yearning that burns within the singer: “I want my heart to burn within me,” a plea to be filled with the same all-consuming passion that God has for humanity. This isn't a passive reception of love, but an active, almost fiery aspiration to mirror that divine love in its completeness. This burning desire finds its parallel in the disciples' experience on the road to Emmaus, where their hearts burned within them as Jesus spoke (Luke 24:32), a transformative encounter that ignites a new understanding and devotion. The central request, "Awaken love," is a prayer for that divine spark to ignite and seal the heart, a beautiful imagery reminiscent of Song of Solomon 8:6, which speaks of love being "as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death."
This strength of love is further articulated in the powerful declaration that “Waters cannot quench love, floods cannot drown it.” This imagery directly references the immutability and overwhelming power of God’s love, which cannot be extinguished by any earthly trial or tribulation. It speaks to the enduring nature of His covenant love, a love that perseveres through every storm of life. The further assertion that "Love is strong as death, as jealous as the grave" draws directly from the same passage in Song of Solomon, highlighting the fierce protectiveness and exclusive claim that true love, especially God’s love, asserts. This is not a possessive jealousy, but a righteous jealousy that guards its beloved, a profound testament to how precious we are in His sight. The song concludes by revealing the motivation behind this incredible divine affection: “This was the joy set before You, that You would have my heart forever.” This final thought directly alludes to Hebrews 12:2, which speaks of Jesus enduring the cross, “for the joy set before him.” That joy, as the song beautifully interprets, is the redeemed heart of humanity, a testament to the profound intimacy and eternal communion God desires with us. "Awaken Love" is thus a moving anthem of divine initiative and a heartfelt response, a call to allow God’s eternal love to ignite a passionate, unquenchable flame within the believer’s own heart.