Concordia Hymnal

The other day, as I was going through and arranging my bookshelves (still!), I picked up the hymnal used by the church body into which I was born. If you were to ask me to name the most valuable memory of my religious upbringing, I think I might name those hymns. While I am no longer affiliated with that body, I would gladly import its fine, doctrinal hymnody into my present situation. The hymnal is The Concordia Hymnal, sadly out of print today. As I browsed through its pages, it struck me that many of the hymns I remembered, I had not heard outside of that little Lutheran church of my youth. I have decided to use Saturdays to post some of those hymns, both as a preparation for Lord’s Day worship, and to help preserve a disappearing treasure.

The following hymn seems to be especially obscure. I don’t have it in my considerable collection of hymn recordings, and I can’t find an audio or video performance online anywhere. The tune found at Cyberhymnal is close, but not exactly that found in the Concordia. I hesitate to link to it, as the MIDI recording makes me suicidal. Click at your own risk.

1 All glory be to Thee, Most High

All glory be to Thee, Most High,
To Thee all adoration;
In grace and truth Thou drawest nigh
To offer us salvation;
Thou showest Thy good will to men,
And peace shall reign on earth again;
We praise Thy Name forever.

We praise, we worship Thee, we trust
And give Thee thanks forever,
O Father, for Thy rule is just
And wise, and changes never;
Thy hand almighty o’er us reigns,
Thou doest what Thy will ordains;
’Tis well for us Thou rulest.

O Jesus Christ, our God and Lord,
Son of the Heavn’ly Father,
O Thou Who hast our peace restored,
The straying sheep dost gather,
Thou Lamb of God, to Thee on high
Out of depths we sinners cry:
Have mercy on us, Jesus!

O Holy Spirit, precious gift,
Thou Comforter unfailing,
From Satan’s snares our souls uplift,
And let Thy power, availing,
Avert our woes and calm our dread.
For us the Savior’s blood was shed;
We trust in Thee to save us.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

This week’s hymn, like many in The Concordia Hymnal, is not found in its most common form. The Concordia-assigned tune is Easter Morrow, borrowed from the hymn Easter Morrow Stills Our Sorrow, another of several hymns I find nowhere else.

2 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise the Lord for grace and favor
To our fathers in distress;
Praise Him, still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Fatherlike, He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows;
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Widely as His mercy goes.

Angels in the height, adore Him,
Ye behold Him face to face;
Saints triumphant, bow before Him,
Gathered in from ev’ry race.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise with us the God of grace.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Well, alright then! I declined to post any audio because I can’t find it done to the “right” tune. But Scott Aniol says it’s a “great hymn, especially to Lauda Anima,” so here you go:

Lauda Anima

And, since I’m already compromised,

Andrews

Update: The tunes above were reversed; I have remedied that, so they are now listed correctly. Also, I have found the Easter Morrow tune here. Of course, it’s used in its original setting, Easter Morrow Stills Our Sorrow, and sung in Norwegian. You can listen to that here.

Today is Independence Day in the United States of America. I have, in the past, always posted some small patriotic item on this day, but today also happened to be the Lord’s Day. Patriotic as I am, and as important a national event as this day is, I am first a citizen of the Kingdom of God. I cannot replace, or even mix, the day’s worship with earthly patriotism. This is the Lord’s Day.

Yet I think the two observances can come together, and perhaps should. But let me suggest that this be no day for national pride among true patriots, but rather an occasion for profound humility. All that we celebrate on this day is a gift from the hand of God. Our nation’s founders — I will not claim that they were Christians, though some were, or that this is or ever was a “Christian nation” — almost unanimously recognized and spoke aloud of a divine Providence, and rightly so. This nation was born, and remains today, because it pleases God to have it so. Any noble acts of men that we commemorate are nothing but extensions of God’s grace. That our nation still stands in spite of the ignoble acts that predominate today is a further display of grace, grace of such immensity that it ought to crush us right down to the ground and force us, prostrate before the God we mock, to confess our sin and plead for mercy.

On the previous two Saturdays, I have begun remembrances of “The Hymns of my Youth.” Along with those hymns, I remember the accompanying order of worship. In that order, immediately following the opening hymn, was a confession of sin. It seems to me that the one place in which I can blend my two citizenships on the Lord’s Day is in confession, and in a plea for mercy, on myself as an individual, and on my nation as a whole. And I think, in this, readers from all nations can join me.

“Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto Thee that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against Thee in thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to Thine infinite mercy and beseech Thee for Christ's sake, grant us remission of all our sins, and by Thy Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of Thee and of Thy will and true obedience to Thy word, to the end that by Thy grace we may come to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

As I have been including the hymn numbers in this series, you may have noticed that the first two, and now this one, are the first three in a row. I assure you that I do not intend to go through the entire Concordia Hymnal. These first three just happen to be among the “hymns of my youth” worth sharing, and CDO* as I am, will naturally be working my way through them in order.

Like most hymnals, the Concordia is arranged according to themes, so this week’s hymn is another from the Worship in General: Praise and Prayer section.

3 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do

If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee;

Decked thee with health, and with faithfulness guided and stayed thee;

How oft in grief hath he not brought thee relief,

Spreading his wings to o’ershade thee!

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the Amen sound from His people again;

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

A nice rendition by Fernando Ortega:

As it ought to be!

* That’s “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,” written as it ought to be: in alphabetical order.

Today’s hymn strikes me as an excellent replacement for all the “Jesus is my boyfriend” songs that pass for worship these days. Each verse is bursting with devotion to the Savior, and presents biblical reasons for that devotion. The hymn ends quite logically with a plea for the final fulfillment, when we will express our adoration face to face with our Savior, Lord, and King. If this doesn’t arouse the “religious affections,” nothing will!

O Savior, precious Savior,
   Whom yet unseen we love,
O Name of might and favor,
   All other names above!
We worship Thee, we bless Thee,
   To Thee, O Christ, we sing;
We praise Thee, and confess Thee
   Our holy Lord and King.

O Bringer of salvation,
   Who wondrously hast wrought,
Thyself the revelation
   Of love beyond our thought;
We worship Thee, we bless Thee,
   To Thee, O Christ, we sing;
We praise Thee, and confess Thee
   Our gracious Lord and King.

In Thee all fullness dwelleth,
   All grace and pow’r divine;
The glory that excelleth,
   O Son of God, is Thine;
We worship Thee, we bless Thee,
   To Thee, O Christ, we sing;
We praise Thee, and confess Thee
   Our glorious Lord and King.

O grant the consummation
   Of this our song above,
In endless adoration,
   And everlasting love;
Then shall we praise and bless Thee
   Where perfect praises ring,
And evermore confess Thee
   Our Savior and our King.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

I hate to do this, but if you want the melody, you’ll have to settle for the MIDI-from-hell at cyberhymnal. There are four tunes listed. If you click the MIDI for Angel’s Story and try to imagine yourself singing in a little white church with a steeple and bell and real wooden pews, accompanied by two ladies on piano and organ, you might get some sense of how I learned it. Or, if you’re willing to pay $0.89 for a nauseatingly embellished and over-orchestrated version, you can download it from Amazon. If anyone has a tip on a better source, I’d be grateful.

For the first time in this series, I think I’m presenting a hymn that should be familiar with many of you, and unlike any of the previous installments, I actually have this one in my mp3 library. My copy is from the Together for the Gospel Live album of 2008. With the difficulty I’ve had finding audio for some of these hymns, I’ve been thinking I might have to record them myself. Well, I guess it’s come to that now. I can’t quite make out my voice from the crowd, but I’m in there somewhere (I wonder what’s happened to my royalty checks?). the Concordia tune is Coronation, the same as the Together for the Gospel recording, and probably the most familiar and suitable for congregational singing. I am familiar with two other tunes, Diadem and Miles lane; both are very nice, but I’ve always liked Diadem, which requires a slight lyrical rearrangement as well.

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
   Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
   And crown Him Lord of all!
Bring forth the royal diadem,
   And crown Him Lord of all!

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
   Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
   And crown Him Lord of all!
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
   And crown Him Lord of all!

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
   Whom David Lord did call;
The God incarnate, Man divine,
   And crown Him Lord of all!
The God incarnate, Man divine,
   And crown Him Lord of all!

Let ev’ry kinded, ev’ry tribe,
   On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
   And crown Him Lord of all!
To Him all majesty ascribe,
   And crown Him Lord of all!

O that with yonder sacred throng
   We at His feet may fall;
We’ll join in the everlasting song,
   And crown Him Lord of all!
We’ll join in the everlasting song,
   And crown Him Lord of all!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Coronation

Organ

Choir

Diadem

Organ

Choir

Miles Lane

Here’s another hymn that should be familiar to anyone (any American, at least) raised right. Cyberhymnal lists no less than seven tunes (and nineteen verses!) for this one. The one you will likely recognize, Azmon, composed in 1828, is certainly not the first used for this 1739 Charles Wesley hymn. Not surprisingly, the Concordia tune, Chesterfield, is nowhere to be found in association with this particular hymn. Oddly, while I remember singing this hymn in church, it was always to Azmon. Also odd is the fact that where I do find the Concordia tune, it’s not called Chesterfield, but Richmond. Curious, eh?*

The hymn is O for a thousand Tongues to Sing. It is well worth noting that, like the previous hymns, the subject of each verse is God and his glorious attributes. As you take note of that, contrast it with the many “worship” songs today in which God is the object and the singer is the subject.

10 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My dear Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears;
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the pow’r of reigning sin,
He sets the pris’ner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, list’ning to His voice,
New life the dead receive;
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Azmon

Chesterfield (Richmond?)

* Like anyone reading this cares . . .

Today’s hymn, Sweet Hour of Prayer, is a Fundy favorite. I don’t know how well known it is in other denominational circles. I debated whether or not to include it here, as it really is not one of the greats, but as the series is Hymns of My Youth, and this song is both doctrinally acceptable and was a favorite in my church, as well as a personal favorite for years, I decided to slip it in.

11 Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet hour of pray’r! sweet hour of pray’r!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known:
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief;
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of pray’r!

Sweet hour of pray’r! sweet hour of pray’r!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place,
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of pray’r!

Sweet hour of pray’r! sweet hour of pray’r!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness,
Engage the waiting soul to bless;
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of pray’r!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Verse 1 gets off to a shaky start. It has a goose-pimply mystical flavor reminiscent of In the Garden that gives me the heebie-jeebies. It earns points in the latter half with “In seasons of distress and grief, / My soul has often found relief; / And oft escaped the tempter’s snare, / By thy return, sweet hour of pray’r,” but it is still too vague. Verse 2 is like totally In the Garden (can’t help saying in airheadish). At this point, I’m ready to throw the whole squishy mess, but then verse 3 comes along and pulls it together with a strong finish: “And since He bids me seek His face, / Believe His Word and trust His grace, / I’ll cast on Him my every care, / And wait for thee, sweet hour of pray’r!” The single indispensible phrase that redeems what would otherwise be a hopelessly sentimental mess is “Believe His Word and trust His grace.” If you sing this song, hang your hat there. And never forget that to “believe his Word and trust his grace,” you must know what his Word says. You can’t feel it, you must think it.

George Beverly Shea

Today’s hymn is an adaptation of the fourth century Latin Te Deum Laudamus, translated as Thee, God, We Praise, Thy Name We Bless (No. 16) and traditionally sung to Old Hundredth. I am especially fond of this adaptation, as its tune, Finlandia, is adapted from my favorite composition of my favorite Romantic period composer, Jean Sibelius.

I don’t think I have ever sung this in a worship service; I remember it chiefly from winter evenings in the dorm, when a couple-few of us would take out the Concordia and sing hymns.

12 Thee, God, We Praise, Thy Holy Name We Bless

Thee, God, we praise, Thy holy name we bless,
Thee, Lord, of all, we humbly do confess.
The whole creation ever worships Thee,
The Father of eternity.
The whole creation ever worships Thee,
The Father of eternity.

O Thou most holy, holy, holy Lord,
Thou, God of hosts, by all, by all adored,
Earth and the heav’ns are ever full of Thee,
Thy light, thy pow’r, Thy majesty.
The earth and heav’ns are ever full of Thee,
Thy light, thy pow’r, Thy majesty.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Concordia also includes the Old Hundredth-tuned Thee, God, We Praise, Thy Name We Bless with six verses. You can read them and seven more at the link included in the first paragraph.

My favorite Finlandia-tuned hymn is Be Still My Soul. I was surprised to discover it’s not in the Concordia. I found the words to five stanzas at the previous link, and even though it’s not in the hymnal of choice for this series, it must be included. Of these stanzas, I am only familiar with 1, 2, and 4.

Be Still My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Finlandia
Organ

Acoustic guitar


Finlandia, symphony by Jean Sibelius
Orchestra

Piano

Today’s hymn, like last week’s, is another that I don’t believe I have ever sung in a worship service. I suspect the tune, Integer Vitae, was judged to ponderous for congregational singing. If so, I would disagree strenuously. I think I learned this hymn when I sang it with a Bible camp choir one summer. It is a beautiful song of Trinitarian praise, and one that certainly ought to be sung for Lord’s Day worship.

17 Praise Ye the Father

Praise ye the Father for His lovingkindness;
Tenderly cares He for His erring children;
Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens,
Praise ye Jehovah.

Praise ye the Savior, great is His compassion;
Graciously cares He for His chosen people;
Young men and maidens, ye old men and children,
Praise ye the Savior.

Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel,
Sent of the Father and the Son to bless us,
Praise ye the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Praise ye the Triune God.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

The following video may not be of the highest professional quality, but it appeals to me for two reasons: the small church setting is exactly as I would have experienced it, and the harmonica accompaniment is something I’ve never seen in any church before. I like it.

I love this hymn. Sadly, I don’t think I’ve had occasion to sing it in the last twenty years. If you’ve got anything to do with the music at your church, sing it for me!

19 My God! How Wonderful Thou Art

My God, how wonderful Thou art,
   Thy majesty, how bright!
How beautiful Thy mercy seat
   In depths of burning light!

How dread are Thine eternal years,
   O everlasting Lord,
By prostrate spirits day and night
   Incessantly adored!

How wonderful, how beautiful,
   The sight of Thee must be,
Thine endless wisdom, boundless pow’r,
   And awful purity!

O how I fear Thee, living God!
   With deepest tend’rest fears,
And worship Thee with trembling hope,
   And penitential tears!

Yet, I may love Thee, too, O Lord!
   Almighty as Thou art,
For Thou hast stooped to ask of me
   The love of my poor heart.

No earthly father loves like Thee,
   No mother, e’er so mild,
Bears and forbears as Thou hast done
   With me, Thy sinful child.

My God, how wonderful Thou art,
   Thou everlasting Friend!
On Thee I stay my trusting heart,
   Till faith in vision end.

The first two of the performances below are Dundee

(also used for The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll not Want and According to Thy Gracious Word), the tune found in the Concordia. The final performance, by New Zealand chamber choir Musica Sacra, is Westminster.

Organ

Concordia Chapel Choir

Musica Sacra

This hymn seems to be unknown outside of Lutheran circles. If you’re a Lutheran today, and you’ve sung this hymn, chances are it’s been a neutered version with updated and decidedly unpoetic language, no violence (“battles” are now “struggles”), sans any “great Jehovah.” I give it to you con carne.

20 We Praise Thee, O God

We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee;
We bless Thy holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship Thee, God of our fathers, we bless Thee;
Through trouble and tempest our Guide hast Thou been.
When perils o’ertake us, escape Thou wilt make us,
And with Thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer
to Thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
To Thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!

The tune is Krember, which you may recognize as We Gather Together.

Organ

I thought I would have to do without a vocal performance, but then I discovered this gentleman:

I love the old falling-apart hymnal. I hope it means what I assume it means.

Now I’ll have to grow my beard out.

Today’s hymn is a Psalm of Isaac Watts, titled by Watts Psalm 136 Abridged. The Concordia includes the four verses below. You can read the full Psalm here.

24 Give to Our God Immortal Praise

Give to our God immortal praise!
Mercy and truth are all His ways;
Wonders of grace to God belong:
Repeat His mercies in your song.

Give to the Lord of lords renown,
The King of kings with glory crown:
His mercies ever shall endure,
When lords and kings are known no more.

He built the earth, He spread the sky,
And fixed the starry lights on high:
Wonders of grace to God belong;
Repeat His mercies in your song.

He sent His Son with power to save
From guilt, and darkness, and the grave:
Wonders of grace to God belong;
Repeat His mercies in your song.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

The Concordia tune is Duke Street, also used with Jesus Shall Reign Where E’er the Sun and I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

I discovered this week’s hymn only shortly before leaving home at the age of eighteen. I was as yet unsaved, but a lover of music. When I asked why this beautiful hymn, right near the front of our own hymnal, had never been sung in our church, I was told it was too “ponderous.” I disagreed then, and disagree now. To this day, I have never sung it in a worship service. I have, however, sung it many times to myself.

The tune, Princess Eugenie, is a Norwegian folk tune, and as beautiful a melody as one could want. It is one of those tunes that, alone, sans lyrics, can bring tears to my eyes. Join that to a poetic triumph that expresses both the heavy sorrow and immense joy of the gospel, and you have a treasure that the church neglects to its own loss.

This is a poem written by Princess Eugenie of Sweden and Norway (1830–1889). According to Wikipedia, she “was interested in spiritual things, but she was not a confessor of any religious belief in particular.” Apparently this hymn doesn’t count as a confession of particular religious belief. I leave it to you to judge.

26 My Heart is Longing to Praise My Savior

My heart is longing to praise my Savior,
   And glorify His name in song and pray’r;
For He has shown me His wondrous favor
   And offered me all heav’n with him to share.

I walked in blindness, my soul was dying;
   The prince of darkness held me in his pow’r.
In pain I turned, to my Father crying;
   He broke my chains and saved me in that hour.

O blessed Jesus, what Thou hast given,
   Through dying on the cross in bitter pain,
Has filled my heart with the peace of heaven;
   My winter’s gone and spring is mine again.

O Christian friends, let your song ascending,
   Give honor, praise to him who set us free!
Our tribulations may seem unending;
   But soon with Him we shall forever be.

Soon we are home and shall stand before him;
   What matter then tho’ we have suffered here.
Then He shall crown us, while we adorn Him;
   So death and all our pains will disappear.

To Thee, O Savior, our adoration
   Shall rise forever for Thy precious blood
Which blotted out all the accusation
   Of sin and guilt which once against us stood.

What blessed joy overflows my spirit,
   Because Thy wondrous grace was granted me.
Thy work complete, that I may inherit
   At last eternal life in heaven with Thee!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

This is a hymn we should all know. Concordia only includes four stanzas (all but the second, below), but I remember it with five. I must have picked up that second verse sometime later, and I’m only placing it second according to memory. As with many of these hymns, there are more verses that haven’t survived in modern hymnals.

30 Crown Him with Many Crowns

Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne;

Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns All music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King Thro’ all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave,

Who rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.

His glories now we sing, Who died, and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of love; Behold His hands and side,

Those wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.

No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his burning eye At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of peace; Whose power a scepter sways

From pole to pole, that wars may cease, And all be pray’r and praise.

His reign shall know no end, And ’round His piercèd feet

Fair flowers of paradise extend Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of years, The Potentate of time,

Creator of the rolling spheres, Ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;

Thy praise and glory shall not fail Thruout eternity.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

The obligatory organ accompaniment:

This is another very familiar hymn. Surely you all know it — or at least, some version of it. I don’t know if there is another hymn of which the verses have been disassembled and rearranged more than this one. As usual, this is the Concordia version. I’m sure you will find discrepancies between this and yours.

31 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
   Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
   Call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
   Fills my heart with joy and love,
Teach me ever to adore Thee,
   May I still Thy goodness prove.

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
   Here by Thy great help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
   Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
   Wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
   Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor,
   Daily I’m constrained to be;
Let Thy grace now, like a fetter,
   Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
   Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
   Seal it for Thy courts above.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;

—Job 19:25–26

203 I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, Who once was dead,
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above,
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

The Concordia tune is Duke Street, also used with Jesus Shall Reign Where E’er the Sun and Give to Our God Immortal Praise.

Psalm 23
   The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
   He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
   He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

As far as I can recall, I’ve never sung this rendition of Psalm 23, but I should have, it’s in the book, and the tune is familiar, so I’m including it here.

207 The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green, He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for His own Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

A table Thou prepares me
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost anoint with oil,
And my cup o’erflows.

Thy lovingkindness all my days
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

The Concordia tune is Dundee, also used with My God! How Wonderful Thou Art and According to Thy Gracious Word.

And the tune you may find more familiar, Crimond:

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . .

—Job 13:15

213 When Peace Like a River

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

He lives, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

We love, because he first loved us.

—1 John 4:19

This may not be the most theologically-packed hymn — it contains only one line about the atonement, and so perhaps doesn’t belong in the “Easter and Ascension” section of the hymnal — but, for better or worse, it belongs in this series, so here it is. It’s much too much about me, and too little about Christ, but I suppose it’s not bad work for a sixteen-year-old author.

216 My Jesus, I Love Thee

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine,
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

From Red Mountain Music’s Depth of Mercy

He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

—Isaiah 53:3–6

This hymn seems to be a rip-off of Wesley’s Come, Thou long Expected Jesus. The Concordia tune is Lord Victorious, of which I have previously expressed my disdain. The tune below is Hyfrydol, which you will certainly recognize. The Concordia text differs somewhat from examples I have found at cyberhymnal.org and elsewhere, reflecting a particular vs. universal atonement. I can’t say which is correct according to the author, but this is surely the theologically correct version.

221 Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

Hail, Thou once despisèd Jesus!
   Hail, Thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us;
   Thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, Thou agonizing Savior,
   Bearer of our sin and shame!
By Thy merits we find favor;
   Life is given through Thy Name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,
   All our sins on Thee were laid;
By almighty love anointed,
   Thou hast full atonement made.
All Thy people are forgiven,
   Through the virtue of Thy blood;
Opened is the gate of Heaven,
   Peace is made ’twixt man and God.

Jesus, hail, enthroned in glory,
   There forever to abide;
All the heav’nly hosts adore Thee,
   Seated at Thy Father’s side.
There for sinners Thou art pleading,
   There Thou dost our place prepare,
Even for us interceding,
   Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, power and blessing,
   Thou art worthy to receive;
Loudest praises, without ceasing,
   Meet it is for us to give.
Help, ye bright angelic spirits,
   Bring your sweetest, noblest lays;
Help to sing of our Savior’s merits,
   Help to chant Immanuel’s praise!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,
   “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
    The whole earth is full of His glory.”

—Isaiah 6:1–3

Today’s hymn is certainly my most-sung hymn. It was the opening hymn every Sunday in the church I attended from Kindergarten through 7th grade, and I’ve sung it many times since, so I must have sung it well over four hundred times. The Concordia omits the fourth verse. I don’t know why, although I’m tempted to attribute it to the Lutheran penchant for neat groups of three.

232 Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,

Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

237 Come, Thou Almighty King

Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy Name to sing,
Help us to praise!
Father all glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days!

Jesus, our Lord, descend;
From all our foes defend,
Nor let us fall;
Let Thine almighty aid
Our sure defense be made;
Our souls on Thee be stay’d;
Lord, hear our call!

Come, Thou incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend!
Come, and Thy people bless,
And give Thy Word success;
Spirit of holiness, On us descend.

Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour.
Thou Who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power!

To Thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be,
Hence, evermore;
Thy sovereign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Yesterday, according to Harold Camping, was to be the day of Christ’s return.

429 When Jesus Comes in Glory

When Jesus comes in glory,
As Lord and King of kings,
O what a wondrous story
The blessèd Bible brings;
His face will shine like sunlight,
His head be white as snow,
His eyes like flaming firelight,
His feet like brass aglow.

His voice like rushing waters
Will reach with mighty sound
Into the deepest quarters
Of all creation round;
And at this wondrous greeting
The dead in Christ shall rise,
Their Lord and Savior meeting
In glory to the skies.

And we who are believing,
And His appearing love,
Shall know we are receiving
His glory from above;
His resurrection power
Will raise us to the place
Where we that wondrous hour
Shall see Him face to face.

O hasten Thine appearing,
Thou Bright and Morning Star!
Lord, may we soon be hearing
The trumpet sound afar;
Thy people are all yearning
To be Thy raptured bride,
And at Thine own returning
Be caught up at Thy side.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Mark 13:26–27, 32–33

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. . . . But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.

We learn from these verses, that the exact time of our Lord Jesus Christ’s second advent is purposely withheld from His church. The event is certain. The precise day and hour are not revealed. “Of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven.”

There is deep wisdom and mercy in this intentional silence. We have reason to thank God that the thing has been hidden from us. Uncertainty about the date of the Lord’s return is calculated to keep believers in an attitude of constant expectation, and to preserve them from despondency. What a dreary prospect the early church would have had before it, if it had known for certain that Christ would not return to earth for at least fifteen hundred years! The hearts of men like Athanasius, Chrysostom, and Augustine, might well have sunk within them, if they had been aware of the centuries of darkness through which the world would pass, before their Master came back to take the kingdom.—What a quickening motive, on the other hand, true Christians have perpetually had, for a close walk with God! They have never known, in any age, that their Master might not come suddenly to take account of his servants. This very uncertainty has supplied them with a reason for living always ready to meet Him.

There is one caution connected with the subject, which must not be overlooked. We must not allow the uncertainty of the time of our Lord’s second advent to prevent our giving attention to the unfulfilled prophecies of Scripture. This is a great delusion, but one into which, unhappily, many Christians fall. There is a wide distinction to be drawn between dogmatical and positive assertions about dates, and a humble, prayerful searching into the good things yet to come. Against dogmatism about times and seasons, our Lord’s words in this place are a standing caution. But as to the general profitableness of studying prophecy, we can have no plainer authority than the apostle Peter’s words: “Ye do well that ye take heed to prophecy;" and the apostle John’s words in Revelation: “Blessed is he that readeth.” (2 Peter i. 19. Rev. i. 3.)

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)].

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. . . .

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

—Psalm 107:1, 8

I suppose this might be considered out of season, but I'm pretty sure giving thanks is appropriate all year long.

243 Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms Hath blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God, Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts, And blessèd peace to cheer us;

And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed;

And free us from all ills, In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given;

The Son and Him Who reigns With them in highest heaven;

The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore;

For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

This hymn is listed in the hymnal under “Call and Repentance,” intended to be used in conjunction with evangelistic sermons. I’m no fan of that kind of hymn, or of using music for evangelistic purposes at all, as music cannot help but move people emotionally. However, I think it is perfectly appropriate for us to sing the gospel to one another in our worship, and this hymn expresses that gospel beautifully.

253 Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain

Come to Calv’ry’s holy mountain,
Sinners, ruined by the Fall;
Here a pure and healing fountain
Flows to you, to me, to all,
In a full, perpetual tide,
Opened when our Savior died.

Come in poverty and meanness,
Come defiled, without, within;
From infection and uncleanness,
From the leprosy of sin,
Wash your robes and make them white;
Ye shall walk with God in light.

Come in sorrow and contrition,
Wounded, impotent, and blind;
Here the guilty free remission,
Here the troubled peace may find:
Health this fountain will restore;
He that drinks shall thirst no more.

He that drinks shall live forever;
’Tis a soul renewing flood.
God is faithful; God will never
Break His covenant of blood,
Signed when our Redeemer died,
Seal’d when He was glorified.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

—Matthew 11:28–30

This is another hymn that offers us an opportunity to sing the gospel to one another.

266 Come, Ye Disconsolate

Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish,

Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;

Earth has no sorrow that Heav’n cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,

Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!

Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,

Earth has no sorrow that Heav’n cannot cure.

Here see the Bread of Life, see waters flowing

Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.

Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing

Earth has no sorrow but Heav’n can remove.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

. . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

—Hebrews 12:2

269 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away,

O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire!

As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,

Pure warm, and changeless be, A living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my Guide;

Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,

When death’s cold sullen stream Shall o’er me roll;

Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;

O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Dallas Christian Adult Concert Choir

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

—John 1:29

273 I Lay My Sins on Jesus

I lay my sins on Jesus, The spotless Lamb of God;

He bears them all and frees us From the accursed load.

I bring my guilt to Jesus To wash my crimson stains

White in His blood most precious Till not a spot remains.

I lay my wants on Jesus, All fulness dwells in Him;

He healeth my diseases, He doth my soul redeem.

I lay my griefs on Jesus, My burdens and my cares;

He from them all releases, He all my sorrows shares.

I long to be like Jesus, Meek, loving, lowly, mild;

I long to be like Jesus, The Father’s holy Child.

I long to be with Jesus Amid the heavenly throng

To sing with saints His praises, To learn the angels’ song.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960. (original source and full text here)

Concordia tune: Crucifix

Charity Homeschool Chorus, Ephrata, PA (tune ?)

In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.

—Zechariah 13:1

277 There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Loose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious Blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing thy pow’r to save,
When this poor lisping stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

—Matthew 7:25

This is one of my favorite choir hymns. The Concordia tune is How Fair the Church, in my opinion, a very beautiful tune, but definitely not chipper enough for today’s 7-eleven singers. Unfortunately, I can’t find a recording online. The tunes below are the traditional Solid Rock, and my favorite, Melita.

283 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to veil His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In ev’ry high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil;
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found;
Dress’d in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Solid Rock

Melita

Possibly Toplady’s best, humbly acknowledging absolute helplessness and dependence on Christ:

284 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and pow’r.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Mahalia Jackson

Continuing the theme from last week, this 1876 hymn is clearly inspired by Toplady’s Rock of Ages, written one hundred years earlier.

298 O Safe to the Rock that Is Higher than I

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Refrain:
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.

In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its pow’r;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Refrain

How oft in the conflict, when press’d by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

Refrain

—The Concordia Hymnal(Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

This hymn of William Cowper was inspired by Genesis 5:24:

Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

317 O For a Closer Walk with God

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heav’nly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

—The Concordia Hymnal(Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Here’s another one that I don’t remember singing, but it’s in the book, and I like it.

340 Abide with Me, Fast Falls the Eventide

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

—The Concordia Hymnal(Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Here’s one for my friend, the Canadian piper (no, that’s not a bird).

Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the prudent answered, “No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, “Lord, lord, open up for us.” But he answered, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

—Matthew 25:1–13

A beautiful eschatological hymn:

426 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying

Wake, awake, for night is flying:
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
Awake, Jerusalem, arise!
Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,
His chariot wheels are nearer rolling;
He comes, prepare, ye virgins wise.
Rise up with willing feet
Go forth, the bridegroom meet;
Hallelujah!
Bear thro’ the night your well-trimmed light,
Speed forth to join the marriage rite.

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
Her heart with deep delight is springing,
At once she wakes, she hastes away:
Forth her Bridegroom hastens glorious,
In grace arrayed, in truth victorious;
Her grief is joy, her night is day:
All hail, incarnate Lord,
Our crown, and our reward!
Hallelujah!
We haste along, in pomp and song,
And gladsome join the marriage throng.

Hear Thy praise, O Lord, ascending
From tongues of men and angels blending
With harp and flute and psaltery.
By Thy pearly gates in wonder
We stand, and swell the voice of thunder,
In bursts of choral melody:
To mortal eyes and ears
What glory now appears!
Hallelujah!
We raise the song, we swell the throng,
To praise Thee ages all along.

—The Concordia Hymnal(Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Wake, Awake (brass)

The Concordia Choir

The original setting: Wachet Auf by J. S. Bach

Having come to the end of the hymnal, this will be the final Hymns of My Youth post.