Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

This hymn, written by John of Damascus (c. 675-749), has been sung in the Church since the middle of the 8th century!  John links Israel's deliverance through the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1-18) with the resurrection of Jesus.  The text progresses until the Church of all time joins in praising God for her deliverance by Jesus' death and resurrection.  The tune, GAUDEAMUS PARITER is 16th-century Bohemian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjkXJ37So4  (Higher Things youth gathering)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaFyaPy6NLY (stanzas 1, 3, 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQ_5pzRllM  (stanzas 1-4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVTjZCDO_A8 (organ setting)

1.
Come, you faithful, raise the strain
    Of triumphant gladness!
God has brought His Israel
    Into joy from sadness,
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
    Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot
    Through the Red Sea waters.
2. 
’Tis the spring of souls today:
    Christ has burst His prison
And from three days’ sleep in death
    As a sun has risen;
All the winter of our sins,
    Long and dark, is flying
From His light, to whom is giv’n
    Laud and praise undying.
3. 
Now the queen of seasons, bright
    With the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts
    Comes its joy to render;
Comes to gladden faithful hearts
    Which with true affection
Welcome in unwearied strain
    Jesus’ resurrection!
4. 
For today among His own
    Christ appeared, bestowing
His deep peace, which evermore
    Passes human knowing.
Neither could the gates of death
    Nor the tomb’s dark portal
Nor the watchers nor the seal
    Hold Him as a mortal.
5. 
Alleluia! Now we cry
    To our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars
    Of the tomb’s dark portal.
Come, you faithful, raise the strain
    Of triumphant gladness!
God has brought His Israel
    Into joy from sadness!

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