Confessions of faith in verse, though they may seem to belong only to practical theology, might be the closest women come to doctrinal writing. But that's a discussion for another day. Hope you enjoy this hymn as much as I do!
November 2, 1924
“O Come, Let Us Sing Unto The Lord”
1524 - - - 1924
“But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and
hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God, and the Father, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians
5:18-20.
O Triune God of Glory,
Unnumbered legions sing Thy praise,
And bow in awe before Thee,
To laud Thy Name, Ancient of Days!
The hosts by thee created,
The bright angelic choirs,
With holy joy elated,
Tune their celestial lyres,
And sing Thee songs eternal,
While sweet-strained harps of gold
Flood Salem’s realm supernal
With melodies untold.
Beyond the pearly portals
Cherub and Seraph raise the strain,
With glorified immortals.
How could earth mute and still remain?
Ah no, since dawned creation,
Thy creatures here below
Have sung of Thy salvation
Who lovest mankind so!
With cymbal, harp, and psalter
Thy chosen Israel
Drew near Thy Temple’s altar,
O blest Immanuel!
Glad Miriam glorified Thee (Ex. 15:20)
In hymns of sweet, melodious flow.
There is no God beside Thee!
All vain the boast of Pharaoh!
And Zion’s loyal daughters
Joined in the triumph-strain.
Beneath Egyptian waters
The scattered foes lay slain!
Thy Moses would adore Thee (Ex. 15)
In praise-filled anthem strong;
Deborah gave Thee glory (Judges 5)
In sweetest choral-song.
In holy fervor singing,
Hannah of grace divine could tell!
(1 Sam 2.)
With praise her heart was ringing
For Thy love’s gift, her Samuel!
Down through the generations
Sweet hymns of praise and prayer,
And holy jubilations
Soared to the regions where
Thy wondrous glory dwelleth!
O gracious God of Love,
The tidings Zion telleth
Thy boundless mercy prove.
And David, king anointed,
The psalmist after Thine Own heart,
In moments, Heav’n-appointed,
The sweetest solace could impart.
In song Thy grace confessing
Toward man with sin defiled;
In psalms Thy kindness blessing,
Thy love’s compassion mild.
His harp to Thee would render
The sweetest harmonies,
And to Thy glory tender
Divinest melodies!
Down through the by-gone ages
Resounds the Song of Solomon,
And Scripture’s hallowed pages
Reveal in song what Thou hast done
Thy people to deliver
From sin, and hell, and death,
Through Thy dear Son, our Savior,
The Christ of Nazareth!
Thy Simeon and Anna
Praised Thee in sweet accord,
The children’s glad Hosanna
Thy glorious Name adored!
The song of Virgin Mother (Luke 1:46-55)
Thy boundless love and mercy praised.
No earth-born din could smother
The voice glad Zacharias raised (Luke 1:68-79)
To Thee in adoration!
How sweet the strains came forth,
When Jesus, our Salvation,
In song proclaimed the worth
Of faith in Thee, dear Father,
With His beloved Own! (Mark
14:26)
When saints in worship gather
Sweet anthems reach Thy throne.
When Nero’s hosts decried Thee
With persecution’s hell-born wrongs,
Thy Zion glorified Thee
In psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs! (Col. 3:16)
Upon Thy Word relying,
Thy Church braved fire and sword,
Triumphant martyrs, dying,
Sang praise to Thee, dear Lord!
And magnified the Savior
Who bought them with His Blood!
Now, crowned with life, forever
Thy glorious grace they laud!
The songs of Luther blended
With Seraphim’s celestial strain,
And Gerhardt’s hymns ascended
Like incense sweet to Thy domain!
Sweet anthems, Spirit-given,
Still reach Thy throne to-day,
As on the path to Heaven
Thy Zion wends her way.
Saved by Thy grace in Jesus,
Clothed in His righteousness,
Cleansed by His Blood so precious
Thy mercy she doth bless.
Accept while here we wander,
O God of Love, our hymns of praise,
Till in the Homeland yonder
The song of victory we raise.
O glorious consummation,
Perfected, glorified,
Our hymns of adoration
Shall laud the Lamb Who died,
The risen, mighty Savior,
Our glorious Lord and King!
Forever and forever
The Heav’ns with song shall ring!
Anna
Hoppe.
(Penned in commemoration of the Quadricentennial of the first
congregational Hymnal in Christendom, published at Wittenberg, Germany in
1524.)
Anna Hoppe, “O Come, Let Us Sing Unto The Lord,” Northwestern Lutheran XI, no. 22 (November 2, 1924): 337.
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