J. Edwin Orr（1912-1987）. Explore “Search Me, O God”: song information and official sources.
Confession and repentance · Confession and returning
The four stanzas have no refrain. The first almost paraphrases Psalm 139’s closing verses: “Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23–24). The others develop cleansing, dedication and renewal, with cleansing linked to David’s confession: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:2). Orr, a historian of revival movements, heard a locally sung tune at meetings in New Zealand at Easter 1936 and wrote these stanzas to it. Notice the prayer’s direction: a person asks to be searched, but God does the searching. ⚠️ The melody is often called a traditional Māori folk tune, but its origins are more complex; the entry explains further. ⚠️ The hymn remains copyrighted, its author having died in 1987. This module introduces it without hosting the lyrics.
Revival meetings, confession, the opening of retreats and personal devotions; teaching on Psalm 139.