Sing Hosanna! Zion Sing! - An Advent Devotional
Sing Hosanna! Zion Sing!
A Devotional for the Advent
Scripture and Hymns for the Four Weeks of Advent
Based on the Lectionary of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (Cycle C).
Bible:
American Standard Version
Copyright
© 1901
The world celebrates Christmas the holiday, with parties and shopping and such. Christians, however, celebrate Christmas the holy day (and the holiday, too, although combining the two can be a challenge). Many seem to have the concern that the Advent has lost its meaning in contemporary society. But in truth, the world doesn't celebrate the holy day. It's up to individuals, families and Christian communities to retain the celebrations of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
The structure of this document is derived from the readings from the four Sundays in Advent as found in the Lectionary of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (Cycle C). The Gospel reading is placed on Sunday, the Old Testament reading is placed on Tuesday, the New Testament reading is placed on Thursday, and the Psalm is placed on Saturday. On the other days, there are Advent hymns and carols that celebrate various themes of the Advent.
The American Standard Version of the Bible was selected to avoid copyright issues. Published in 1901, it is in the Public Domain.
It is hoped that this will be a tool that people might use to retain the holy day during their holiday season. Enjoy!
Doug
Anderson
Decatur, Alabama
November 5, 2009
William Michael Rossetti, ed. The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti, with a Memoir and Notes, 1904, Page 156.
Behold,
the Bridegroom cometh: go ye out
With lighted
lamps and garlands round about
To meet Him in a rapture with a
shout.
It may be at the
midnight, black as pitch,
Earth shall cast up her poor, cast up
her rich.
It may be at the
crowing of the cock
Earth shall upheave her depth, uproot her
rock.
For lo, the
Bridegroom fetcheth home the Bride:
His Hands are Hands she knows,
she knows His Side.
Like pure Rebekah
at the appointed place,
Veiled, she unveils her face to meet His
Face.
Like great Queen
Esther in her triumphing,
She triumphs in the Presence of her
King.
His Eyes are as a
Dove's, and she's Dove-eyed;
He knows His lovely mirror, sister,
Bride.
He speaks with
Dove-voice of exceeding love,
And she with love-voice of an
answering Dove.
Behold, the
Bridegroom cometh: go we out
With lamps ablaze and garlands round
about
To meet Him in a rapture with a shout.
Table of Contents
November 29 – First Sunday of Advent
Luke 19:28-40
Luke 21:25-36
Mountains, Bow Your Heads Majestic
Jeremiah 33:14-16
O Flos de Jesse Virgula ("O Flower of the Branch of Jesse.")
Psalm 25:1-10
See, He Comes! Whom Every Nation
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
December 6 – Second Sunday of Advent
Luke 3:1-14
Luke 3:15-20
When Bloody Herod Reigned King
Malachi 3:1-7
Ye Sons of Men, In Earnest
Psalm 66:1-12
Now Be The God of Israel Blessed
Philippians 1:2-11
December 13 – Third Sunday in Advent
Luke 7:18-28
Luke 7:29-35
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Creator Of The Stars Of Night
Psalm 85
The Advent of Our God
Philippians 4:4-7
December 20 – Fourth Sunday In Advent
Luke 1:39-45
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
Micah 5:2-5
In Bethlehem, The Lowly
Psalm 80:1-7
Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying
Hebrews 10:5-10
Sing Hosanna! Zion Sing!
Luke 1:46-56
The Heart Longing for the Inner Advent
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, Go your way into the village over against you; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him.
31 And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.
32 And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon.
36 And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.
37 And as he was now drawing nigh, even at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen;
38 saying, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
OR
25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;
26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:
30 when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.
31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:
35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.
36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Words: Stoke-upon-Tern Hymn-Book
Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878), Carol# 65.
Mountains,
bow your heads majestic,
Lowly vales arise and sing;
See
approach the Prince celestial!
Earth receive thy Heavenly King.
Crown'd with grace
and understanding,
Branch Divine of Jesse's stem;
God of
knowledge, wisdom, power,
Heaven's most glorious diadem.
Sweetly
smiles the Rose of Sharon,
Lofty cedars kiss the ground,
Deserts
bloom with great rejoicing,
Isles with glorious mirth resound.
Christ has brought
us out redemption,
Righteous Saviour, faithful Lord;
Christ has
come to save the sinner
From the edge of Judgment's sword.
Heavenly
throngs His Birth attending,
Angels chant Emmanuel's praise,
Joy
pervades the shining myriads,
That above their anthems raise:
Earth, with holy joy
abounding,
Haste to welcome Zion's King;
And as tokens of
affection,
Richest treasures hither bring.
Hark,
ye deaf, to words of comfort;
See, ye blind, the source of
light;
Speak, ye dumb, the Saviour's praises;
Rise, ye dead,
from realms of night!
Flee, ye fiends,
before His Presence;
Peace, be still, thou sounding sea;
Winds
be hushed, in silence slumber;
Rest, ye billows, tranquil be.
Christ
is come, the weak to succour;
Not to break the bruised
reed;
Christ is come to bear the burden
Of the poor that pine
in need.
Balm to every wound
He offers,
Comfort to the restless mind;
Captives from their
chains He severs,
He is come lost sheep to find.
Earth,
before Thy Lord triumphant,
Bow the head and bend the
knee,
Christ, that over death and Satan
Hath obtained the
victory;
Sing His praises,
tell His story,
Bid thy heart with rapture swell;
Let thine own
remotest corners
Praise His conquest over hell.
14 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah.
15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name whereby she shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.
Words: English Traditional, Fifteenth Century
Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 162-3.
O Flos de Jesse virgula
Laus Tibi sit gloria.
Adam
our father was in bliss,
And for an apple of little price,
He
lost the bliss of Paradise,
Pro sua superbia.
And
all that ever of him came
The right way to hellë nam,1
Both
Isaac and Abraham,
Teste
prophecia.
Then
these prophets preached aforn,2
That
a Child should be born
To buy what Adam had forlorn,
Sua
morte propria.
Moses
first in his law told
A child there should be born so bold
To
buy again what Adam sold,
Sua nocte
pessima.
Isaac,3 without
leasing,
Prophesied in his preaching,
Of Jesse's root a Flower
should spring
De
virgine purica.
Jeremy
that was so ying,
Prophesied of His coming,
That is very Lord
and King,
Summi Patris gracia.
Furthermore,
as I you tell,
Then prophesied Daniel
Of His coming he gan
spell,
Gentibus in Judæa.
When
time came of God Almight,
That would bring mankind to right,
In
a maiden He gan light,
Que vocatur
Maria.
He
shall be born, that blissful Child,
Of Mary mother, maiden
mild;
Fro the fiend He us shield,
Qui
creavit omnia.
Pray
we to Him with all our mind,
That hath madë all mankind,
He
bring us allë to good end,
In die
novissima.
Notes:
Note: Dr. Rickert gives the following translations:
O Flos de Jesse virgula is translated as "O Flower of the branch of Jesse."
Laus Tibi sit gloria is translated as "Praise be to Thee (and) glory.
Pro sua superbia is translated as "For his price."
Teste prophecia is translated as "By the witness of the prophets."
Sua morte propria is translated as "By his own death."
Sua nocte pessima is translated as "On his worst night."
De virgine purica is translated as "Of the Virgin Mary."
Summi Patris gracia is translated as "By the grace of the Father Most High."
Gentibus in Judæa is translated as "Among the tribes in Judea."
Que vocatur Maria is translated as "Who is called Mary."
Qui creavit omnia is translated as "Who created all things."
In die novissima is translated as "On the last day."
A Psalm of David.
1Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in thee have I trusted, Let me not be put to shame; Let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, none that wait for thee shall be put to shame: They shall be put to shame that deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me thy ways, O Jehovah; Teach me thy paths.
5 Guide me in thy truth, and teach me; For thou art the God of my salvation; For thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; For they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: According to thy lovingkindness remember thou me, For thy goodness' sake, O Jehovah.
8 Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in justice; And the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of Jehovah are lovingkindness and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
St. Basil's Hymnal. Second Edition. Toronto: St. Michael's College, 1891, #135, pp. 226-7.
See,
He comes! Whom ev'ry nation,
Taught of God, desired to
see;
Filled with hope and expectation,
That He would their
Saviour be.
Sing, O! sing with exultation.
Haste we to our
Father's Home;
Peace, redemption, joy, salvation,
Now from
Heaven to earth are come.
See, He comes!
Whom kings and sages,
Prophets, patriarchs of old,
Distant
climes and countless ages,
Waited eager to behold.
Sing, O!
sing with exultation.
Haste we to our Father's Home;
Peace,
redemption, joy, salvation,
Now from Heaven to earth are come.
See,
the Lamb of God appearing,
God of God from Heaven above!
See
the Heavenly Bridegroom cheering
His dear Bride with words of
love!
Glory to th' Eternal Father,
Glory to th' Incarnate
Son,
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Glory to the Three in One.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:
12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you;
13 to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?
11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.
12 And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?
13 And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.
OR
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;
16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:
17 whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
18 With many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto the people;
19 but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,
20 added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
Words: English Traditional
Davies
Gilbert, Some
Ancient Christmas Carols.
Second
Edition.
(London:
John Nichols And Son, 1823), Carol #18, pp. 57-8.
When
bloody Herod reigned king
Within Judea land,
Much woes
his cruel will did bring,
By power of his command.
Amongst
the rest, with grief opprest,
Was good St. John there
slain,
Who on this day midst sport and play,
A Martyr'd
death did gain.
King
Herod, being in his tower,
Herodias dancing spied,
As fair
as any Summer flower
In all her painted pride;
Clad in
bright gold for to behold
King Herod's heart admired
He
bid her crave what she should have,
Though she his crown
desired.
A
kingly crown I do not wish,
But Saint John's head, she
said;
Wherefore, all bleeding in a dish,
Before me be it
laid.
Which was the thing she of the king
Desired with
right good will,
Whose death was wrought, and to her brought:
Such minds have harlots still.
Thus
wine and women, we do see,
Men's minds to folly win;
For
Herod did too soon agree,
And gave consent to sin.
For on
this day, as Scriptures day,
St. John did lose his
head,
Whilst she did sing before the King,
As he at table
fed.
1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.
2 But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap:
3 and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.
6 For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. But ye say, Wherein shall we return?
Words:
"Mit Ernst, O Menschenkinder," Valentin Thilo (1607-1662),
1642
Translation By
Catherine
Winkworth
William Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt, eds., The Chorale Book For England. (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1863, Supp. 1865), #84.
Ye
sons of men, in earnest
Prepare your hearts within,
The
wondrous Conqu'ror cometh,
Whose power can save from sin,
Whom
God in grace alone
Hath promised long to send us,
To
lighten and befriend us,
And make His mercy known.
Oh set your ways in
order
When such a guest is nigh;
Make plain the paths
before Him
That now deserted lie.
Forsake what He doth
hate,
Exalt the lowly valleys,
Bring down all pride and
malice,
And make the crooked straight.
The heart that's
meek and lowly
Is highest with our God;
The heart now proud
and lofty
He humbles with His rod;
The heart that's
unenticed
By sin, and fears to grieve Him,
Is ready to
receive Him,
To such comes Jesus Christ.
'Twas thus St. John
hath taught us,
'Twas thus he preach'd of yore;
And they
will feel God's anger
Who list not to his lore.
Ah God! now
let his voice
To Thy true service win us,
That Christ may
come within us,
And we in Him rejoice!
A song, a Psalm.
1Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth:
2 Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious.
3 Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4 All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. Selah
5 Come, and see the works of God; He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot: There did we rejoice in him.
7 He ruleth by his might for ever; His eyes observe the nations: Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8 Oh bless our God, ye peoples, And make the voice of his praise to be heard;
9 Who holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou layedst a sore burden upon our loins.
12 Thou didst cause men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Words: Isaac Watts
Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707)
Now
be the God of Israel bless'd
Who makes his truth appear,
His
mighty hand fulfils his word,
And all the oaths he sware.
Now he bedews old
David's root
With blessings from the skies;
He makes the branch
of promise grow,
The promis'd horn arise.
John was the prophet
of the Lord
To go before his face,
The herald which our Saviour
God
Sent to prepare his ways.
He makes the great
salvation known,
He speaks of pardon'd sins;
While grace divine
and heavenly love
In its own glory shines.
"Behold the
Lamb of God," he cries,
"That takes our guilt away:
"I
saw the Spirit o'er his head
"On his baptizing day.
"Be every vale
exalted high,
"Sink every mountain low,
"The proud
must stoop, and humble souls
"Shall his salvation know.
"The heathen
realms with Israel's land
"Shall join in sweet accord;
"And
all that's born of man shall see
"The glory of the Lord.
"Behold the
morning star arise,
"Ye that in darkness sit;
"He
marks the path that leads to peace,
"And guides our doubtful
feet."
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy,
5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now;
6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.
8 For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
10 so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
18 And the disciples of John told him of all these things.
19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
20 And when the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and on many that were blind he bestowed sight.
22 And he answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
OR
29 And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.
31 Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like?
32 They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep.
33 For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.
34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 And wisdom is justified of all her children.
Words:
“Tröstet, tröstet meine Lieben,” Johannes
Olearius, (1611-1684),
Geistliche
Singe-Kunst (Leipzig,
Germany: 1671)
Translated
from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, alt.
Chorale
Book for England,
1863.
Comfort,
comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort
those who sit in darkness,
Mourning 'neath their sorrow's
load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for
them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is
over.
For
the herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding
all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that
warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys
rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.
Yea,
her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All
that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She
has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God
will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.
Make
ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places
plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy
reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er the earth is shed
abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is
never broken.
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15 Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
17 Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.
18 I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.
20 At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.
Words:
Conditor
alme siderum,
Ambrosian, 6th
or 7th
Century,
Translated by Rev. John Mason Neale.
George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), #1
Creator
of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting
Light;
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear thy servants
when they call.
Thou, grieving that
the ancient curse
Should doom to death an universe,
Hast found
the med’cine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruin’d
race.
Thou cam’st,
the Bridegroom of the Bride,
As drew the world to
evening-tide;
Proceeding from a Virgin shrine,
The spotless
Victim all divine.
At whose dread Name,
majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And
things celestial thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord
alone.
O thou, whose coming
is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve
us, while we dwell below,
From ev’ry insult of the foe.
To God the Father,
God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honour,
might, and glory be
From age to age eternally. Amen.
A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 Jehovah, thou hast been favorable unto thy land; Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; Thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, And cause thine indignation toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not quicken us again, That thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Show us thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, And grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God Jehovah will speak; For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: But let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth springeth out of the earth; And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
12 Yea, Jehovah will give that which is good; And our land shall yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, And shall make his footsteps a way to walk in.
Words:
“Instantis
adventum Dei,” Charles
Coffin, Paris Breviary, 1736;
Translated from Latin to English by
John Chandler
Hymns of the Primitive
Church,
1837.
The
advent of our God
Our prayers must now employ,
And we must meet
Him on His road
With hymns of holy joy.
The
everlasting Son
Incarnate deigns to be;
Himself a servant’s
form puts on
To set His people free.
Daughter
of Zion, rise
To meet thy lowly King,
Nor let thy faithless
heart despise
The peace He comes to bring.
As
Judge, on clouds of light,
He soon will come again,
And all His
scattered saints unite
With Him in heaven to reign.
Before
the dawning day
Let sin’s dark deeds be gone;
The old man
all be put away,
The new man all put on.
All
glory to the Son
Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit,
ever One,
Through all eternity.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;
42 and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?
44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.
Words:
“Ermuntert
euch, ihr Frommen,”
Laurentius Laurenti (1660-1722), 1700;
Translation by Sarah B.
Findlater (1823-1907)
Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1854
Rejoice,
rejoice, believers!
And let your lights appear;
The evening is
advancing,
And darker night is near.
The Bridegroom is
arising,
And soon he will draw nigh;
Up! pray, and watch, and
wrestle!
At midnight comes the cry.
See that your lamps
are burning;
Replenish them with oil;
Look now for your
salvation,
The end of sin and toil.
The watchers on the
mountain
Proclaim the Bridegroom near,
Go meet him as he
cometh,
With alleluias clear.
O wise and holy
virgins,
Now raise your voices higher,
Until in songs of
triumph
Ye meet the angel choir.
The marriage-feast is
waiting,
The gates wide open stand;
Up, up, ye heirs of
glory!
The Bridegroom is at hand.
Our
hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
Arise, thou Sun so
longed for,
O'er this benighted sphere!
With hearts and hands
uplifted,
We plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth's
redemption,
And ever be with thee! Amen.
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4 And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5 And this man shall be our peace. When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
Words:
Anonymous
Translation by F. W. Herzberker
O. Hardwig, ed., Wartburg Hymnal (Chicago: Wartburg Publishing House, 1918), #109.
In
Bethlehem, the lowly,
A Child for us is born,
The Son of
God incarnate,
This happy Christmas morn,
Aye, aye,
Aye, aye,
This happy Christmas morn.
And while in awe
I ponder
The mystery divine,
My heart is lost in wonder
That Christ is also mine.
Aye, aye, Aye, aye,
That Christ is also mine.
O dearest Child,
how can I
Repay Thy wondrous love
In which Thou comest to
save me
From Thy great throne above ?
Aye, aye, Aye,
aye,
From Thy great throne above.
My life, my all,
I bring Thee;
Oh, grant me, I implore,
Thy grace to serve
and love Thee
Now and forevermore.
Aye, aye, Aye,
aye,
Now and forevermore.
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that sittest above the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up thy might, And come to save us.
3 Turn us again, O God; And cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
4 O Jehovah God of hosts, How long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
5 Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, And given them tears to drink in large measure.
6 Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors; And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Turn us again, O God of hosts; And cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
Words:
“Wachet
auf, ruft uns die Stimme,”
Philipp Nicolai, 1598-1599
Translation by Catherine Winkworth,
1858
William
Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt, eds.,
The
Chorale Book For England.
(London:
Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1863, Supp. 1865), #200.
Wake,
awake, for night is flying,
The watchmen on the heights are
crying;
Awake, Jerusalem, at last!
Midnight hears the welcome
voices,
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
Come forth, ye
virgins, night is past!
The Bridegroom comes, awake,
Your lamps
with gladness take;
Hallelujah!
And for His marriage-feast
prepare,
For ye must go to meet Him there.
Zion hears the
watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing,
She
wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down
all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious,
Her
Star is risen, her Light is come!
Ah come, Thou blessed Lord,
O
Jesus, Son of God,
Hallelujah!
We follow till the halls we
see
Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee!
Now let all the
heavens adore Thee,
And men and angels sing before Thee,
With
harp and cymbal's clearest tone;
Of one pearl each shining
portal,
Where we are with the choir immortal
Of angels round
Thy dazzling throne;
Nor eye hath seen, nor ear
Hath yet
attain'd to hear
What there is ours,
But we rejoice, and sing
to Thee
Our hymn of joy eternally.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;
6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure:
7 Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God.
8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),
9 then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Words:
B. Schmolcke
Translation by A. Ramsey
O. Hardwig, ed., Wartburg Hymnal (Chicago: Wartburg Publishing House, 1918), #82.
Sing
Hosanna! Zion, sing!
David's Son thy gates is nearing.
Hail
the triumph of thy King;
Set the throne for his
appearing;
Strew thy palms; prepare the way:
Lo, He comes to
thee today.
Hail! Hosanna!
Welcome Thou!
Come; behold, we go to meet Thee;
Low before
Thy feet we bow,
With our hearts arrayed to greet Thee.
Enter,
Lord, within our gates,
Where a welcome for Thee waits.
Hail! Hosanna!
Glorious King,
Prince of Peace and Victor splendid!
Thou to
all Thine own wilt bring
All the spoils of conflict
ended.
Thine the right, exalted, sure,
And Thy kingdom shall
endure.
Hail! Hosanna!
Dearest Guest,
Who dost graciously elect us
Joint heirs in
Thy kingdom blest,
Reign Thou in us and protect us.
Make us
ready to obey,
Subject to Thy scepter's sway.
Hail! Hosanna!
Lord, make haste;
Come, Thy clemency revealing,
Not in
servant's form abased,
Nor Thy majesty concealing;
Come,
that Zion now may see
David's Son, and God's, in Thee.
Hail! Hosanna! Come, O Christ;
Help and prosper, we implore
Thee,
So there can be sacrificed
Truly contrite hearts
before Thee.
Whoso will Thy voice regard
Thou wilt own as
Thine, O Lord.
Hail! Hosanna!
Here with Thee
In Gethsemane we wander,
Till at last our
lot shall be
Evermore to praise Thee yonder.
Bethphage
before us lies
Where Hosannas ever rise.
Far and near
hosannas heard!
Haste Thine advent, O Lord Jesus!
O Thou
Blessed of the Lord,
Wilt stand there and not release
us.
Hail! Hosanna! Dost Thou hear?
Yea, Hosanna! Thou art near!
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.
51 He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
52 He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy
55 (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
Words:
“Warum
willst du drauszen stehn,”
Paul Gerhardt, 1653.
Translation by
Catherine
Winkworth (1827-1878)
Lyra Germanica: Second Series, The Christian Life, 1858
Wherefore
dost Thou longer tarry,
Blessed of the Lord, afar?
Would it
were Thy will to enter
To my heart, O Thou my Star,
Thou my
Jesus, Fount of power,
Helper in the needful hour!
Sharpest
wounds my heart is feeling,
Touch them, Saviour, with Thy healing!
For I shrink beneath
the terrors
Of the law's tremendous sway;
All my countless
crimes and errors
Stand before me night and day.
Oh the
heavy, fearful load
Of the righteous wrath of God!
Oh the awful
voice of thunder
Cleaving heart and soul asunder!
While the foe my
soul is telling,
"There is grace no more for thee,
Thou
must make thy endless dwelling
In the pains that torture
me."
Yes, and keener still thy smart,
Conscience, in my
anguished heart,
By thy venomed tooth tormented,
Long-past sins
are sore repented.
All delight, all
consolation
Lies in Thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
Feed my soul
with Thy salvation,
O thou Bread of Life unpriced.
Blessed
Light, within me glow,
Ere my heart breaks in its woe;
Oh
refresh me and uphold me,
Jesus, come, let me behold Thee.
Joy, my soul, for He
hath heard thee,
He will come and enter in;
Lo! He turns
and draweth toward thee,
Let thy welcome-song being;
Oh
prepare thee for such guest,
Give thee wholly to thee rest,
With
an open'd heart adore Him,
Pour thy griefs and fears before Him.