Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying

October 26th is dedicated on the calendar of commemorations to three stellar hymnwriters: Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heerman, and Paul Gerhardt.  Where would we be without their rich texts?  Nicolai was also a gifted composer, writing the text and tune for "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying," known as the "King of Chorales," as well as "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright," known as the "Queen of Chorales."  The circumstances which called into being these two great hymns and the classic chorales to which they are wed are tragic.  Pestilence raged in Westphalia.  At Unna, where Nicolai was pastor, 1,300 villagers died of the plague between July, 1597, and January, 1598.  During one week in August, 170 victims were claimed by death!

From the parsonage, which overlooked the churchyard, Nicolai witnessed the steady procession of burials and the regular digging of graves.  In the midst of all this death and sadness, Nicolai wrote a series of meditations entitled, "Freuden Spiegel," or "Mirror of Joy."  His purpose, stated in the preface, dated August 10, 1598, was "to leave it behind me (if God should call me from this world) as a token of my peaceful, joyful Christian departure, or (if God should spare me in health) to comfort sufferers whom He should also visit with the pestilence....There seemed to me nothing more sweet, delightful and agreeable, than the contemplation of the noble, sublime doctrine of Eternal Life obtained through the Blood of Christ...I...searched the Scriptures as to what they revealed on this matter...then day by day I wrote out my meditations, found myself, thank God! wonderfully well, comforted in heart, joyful in spirit and truly content."  Both of these classic hymns appeared for the first time in his "Mirror of Joy."  As a title to "Wachet auf" Nicolai wrote, "Of the voice at Midnight, and the Wise Virgins who meet their Heavenly Bridegroom. Mt. 25."  The title to "Wie schon" reads, "A spiritual bridal song of the believing soul concerning Jesus Christ, her Heavenly Bridegroom, founded on the 45th Psalm of the prophet David."  Two treasures.  The first is presented here:

"Wake, awake, for night is flying,"

The watchmen on the heights are crying:

"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"

Midnight hears the welcome voices

And at the thrilling cry rejoices:

"Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?"

The bridegroom comes, awake!

Your lamps with gladness take!

Alleluia!

With bridal care

Yourselves prepare

To meet the bridegroom, who is near."

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 ris'n, her light is come.

Now come, Thou Blessed One,

Lord Jesus, God's own Son,

Hail!  Hosanna!

We enter all

The wedding hall

To eat the Supper at Thy call.

Now let all the heav'ns adore Thee,

Let saints and angels sing before Thee

With harp and cymbals' clearest tone.

Of one pearl each shining portal,

Where, joining with the choir immortal,

We gather round Thy radiant throne.

No eye has see the light,

No ear has heard the might

Of Thy glory;

Therefore will we

Eternally

Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!

Saints, See the Cloud of Witnesses

After the Apostles, Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch in Syria.  Whether he knew any of the apostles directly is uncertain.  Little is known of his life except for the end of it.  Early in the second century (perhaps around 107 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Trajan), he was arrested and condemned to death, transported to Rome to die in the arena.  By dealing with Ignatius, the authorities hoped to terrify his followers.  Instead, Ignatius took the opportunity to encourage the Christians, speaking to groups of them at every town along the way to Rome.  He wrote seven letters that have been preserved.  In one he writes:  "I am God's wheat, ground fine by the lion's teeth to be made purest bread for Christ."  Ignatius' life and death are commemorated on October 17th.

1.  Saints, see the cloud of witnesses surround us;

     Their lives of faith encourage and astound us.

          Hear how the Master praised their faith so fervent:

          "Well done, My servant!"

2.  These saints of old received God's commendation;

     They lived as pilgrim-heirs of His salvation.

          Through faith they conquered flame and sword and gallows,

          God's name to hallow.

3.  They call to us, "Your timid footsteps lengthen;

     Throw off sin's weight, your halting weakness strengthen.

          We kept the faith, we shed our blood, were martyred;

          Our lives we bartered."

4.  Come, let us fix our sight on Christ who suffered,

     He faced the cross, His sinless life He offered;

          He scorned the shame, He died, our death enduring,

          Our hope securing.

5.  Lord, give us faith to walk where You are sending,

     On paths unmarked, eyes blind as to their ending;

          Not knowing where we go, but that You lead us--

          With grace precede us.

6.  You, Jesus, You alone deserve all glory!

     Our lives unfold, embraced within Your story;

          Past, present, future--You, the same forever--

          You fail us never!

Nearer, My God, to Thee

Sarah Flower Adams' (1805-1848) pastor asked her and her sister to help him prepare a hymnal, and the two responded eagerly, writing thirteen texts and sixty-two new tunes!  As the sisters were completing their work, their pastor mentioned he was planning a sermon on Jacob's dream of a ladder ascending to heaven and he needed an appropriate hymn.  Adams soon completed the five stanzas of "Nearer, My God, to Thee."  Her own life was a difficult one which included many losses, not the least of which was her own mother who died when Sarah was only five years old.  She learned, as we have learned, that our steps along life's path, even those steps which are difficult or painful or filled with loss, only draw us nearer to God as He carries us through such times, also ministering to us with His holy angels who strengthen us in our weakness.  "For are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"  (Hebrews 1:16)

1.  Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

     E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

     Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

2.  Though like a wanderer, the sun gone down,

     Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

     Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

3.  There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;

     All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;

     Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

4.  Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

     Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise;

     So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

5.  Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,

     Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,

     Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

The Tree of Life

Holy Cross Day

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 woman 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 a 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 this 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.

My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker

Fred Precht writes in Lutheran Worship Hymnal Companion about this marvelous hymn text: "This hymn by Johann Gramann was written, according to the great Lutheran theologian Martin Chemnitz, one of the authors of the Formula of Concord, at the request of Albrecht the Elder, Duke of Prussia, a follower of Luther's and staunch supporter of the Reformation.  Albrecht asked for a hymn based on his favorite psalm, Psalm 103, a beautiful psalm in praise of the God of all grace."

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite psalms too.  We sang this hymn today in our Matins worship services here at St. John-Amelith.  What a gloriously strong text!  As the summer flowers fade and fall approaches, one is given an object lesson in the brevity of life contrasted to the steadfast, everlasting love of God.

1.  My soul, now praise your Maker!

         Let all within me bless His name

     Who makes you full partaker

         Of mercies more than you dare claim.

             Forget Him not whose meekness

                  Still bears with all your sin,

              Who heals your ev'ry weakness,

                  Renews your life within;

                       Whose grace and care are endless

                           And saved you through the past;

                       Who leaves no suff'rer friendless

                           But rights the wronged at last.

2.  He offers all His treasure

         Of justice, truth, and righteousness,

     His love beyond all measure,

         His yearning pity o'er distress;

              Nor treats us as we merit

                  But sets His anger by.

              The poor and contrite spirit

                  Finds His compassion nigh;

                       As high as heav'n above us,

                           As dawn from close of day,

                       So far, since He has loved us,

                           He puts our sins away.

3.  For as a tender father

         Has pity on His children here,

      God in His arms will gather

         All who are His in childlike fear.

              He knows how frail our powers,

                  Who but from dust are made.

              We flourish like the flowers,

                  And even so we fade;

                       The wind but through them passes,

                           And all their bloom is o'er

                       We wither like the grasses;

                           Our place knows us no more.

4.  His grace remains forever,

         And children's children yet shall prove

     That God forsakes them never

         Who in true fear shall seek His love.

              In heav'n is fixed His dwelling,

                  His rule is over all;

              O hosts with might excelling,

                  With praise before Him fall,

                       Praise Him forever reigning,

                           All you who hear His Word--

                       Our life and all sustaining.

                           My soul, O praise the Lord!