Saturday, February 28, 2009

The Tree of Life

1.  The tree of life with ev'ry good
     In Eden's holy orchard stood,
          And of its fruit so pure and sweet
          God let the man and women eat.
     Yet in this garden also grew
     Another tree, of which they knew;
          Its lovely limbs with fruit adorned
          Against whose eating God had warned.

2.  The stillness of that sacred grove
     Was broken, as the serpent strove
          With tempting voice Eve to beguile
          And Adam too by sin defile.
     O day of sadness when the breath
     Of fear and darkness, doubt and death,
          Its awful poison first displayed
          Within the world so newly made.

3.  What mercy God showed to our race,
     A plan of rescue by His grace:
          In sending One from woman's seed,
          The One to fill our greatest need--
     For on tree uplifted high
     His only Son for sin would die,
          Would drink the cup of scorn and dread
          To crush the ancient serpent's head!

4.  Now from that tree of Jesus' shame
     Flows life eternal in His name;
          For all who trust and will believe,
          Salvation's living fruit receive.
     And of its fruit so pure and sweet
     The Lord invites the world to eat,
          To find within this cross of wood
          The tree of life with ev'ry good.   

10 comments:

Cheryl said...

Pastor S., when I discovered this hymn it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. Thank you for writing it. I love the tune with which it is matched and I'm so glad the LSB committee didn't change it.

amelithpastor said...

Thanks, Cheryl. It still is one of my favorites too. A blessed Lenten season to you!

Anonymous said...

I can't say it better than Cheryl; also one of my all-time favorites.

My daughter is two, and we have one more on the way. My wife and I chose a few hymns to help in teaching the faith to our children--one is The Tree of Life. My daughter loves it, too. Thank you!

Josh

amelithpastor said...

Thanks, Josh! May it be a blessing to your daughter and your new child!

Unknown said...

Hello Pastor S.,
Wondering if you know where a recording of "The Tree of Life" can be obtained? A simple internet search isn't turning up much.
Thank you,

Duane.

Lynn said...

I just heard this song for the 1st time this morning on "The Lutheran Hour" a radio show on Sunday mornings. It is always a blessing in which I can start my morning but this morning even more so as I listened closely to the the beautiful words and choir that sang it. Thank you so much...I will be sharing this with our choir director in hopes that we, as a congregation (Methodist) will be able to hear it come the Lenten season--or anytime for that matter. Lynn

amelithpastor said...

Thanks, Lynn. A few of my members also commented on hearing "The Tree of Life" on The Lutheran Hour as I greeted them after worship on Sunday. A blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Emily Cook said...

Thank you, pastor, for posting these lyrics and for discussing this hymn on Issues etc! I am leading a Bible study, and we are discussing this hymn this week! It is such a blessing!

Foof70 said...

the Missouri Synod Lutheran relatives introduced me to this hymn. I was an instant fan. Who knows? might sing it in my Baptist Church for special music sometime! :-)

Ovenbird said...

I first learned this hymn as part of an Advent Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. It was used for the fall of Adam/promise of Messiah portion, and it fit beautifully. It also has a lovely singable tune. It is one of my favorites. I now sing it during Advent annually (at home in private) and think of it every time I see a Christmas tree.