If you are like me, the first two songs in this series were beyond your musical palate. That's okay. Remember: we are aiming to expand our appreciation for ancient musical contributions related to the Advent season. Today's selection is mildly well-known and kincreasingly-sung in churches around the world. Gilbert E. Doan, Jr. is responsible for translating the 6th century Latin hymn, Christe Redemptor Omnium, but Keith and Kristyn Getty are credited with popularizing the tune that first appeared in a 1978 Lutheran hymnal as,
O Savior of Our Fallen Race.
O Savior of our fallen race,
O brightness of the Father's face;
O Son who shared the Father's might
Before the world knew day or night.
O Jesus, very Light of light,
Our constant Star in sin's deep night:
Now hear the prayers Your people pray
Throughout the world this holy day.
Remind us Lord of life and grace
How once, to save our fallen race,
You put our human vesture on
And came to us as Mary's son.
Today, as year by year its light
Brings to our world a promise bright,
One precious truth outshines the sun:
Salvation comes from You alone.
For from the Father's throne you came,
His banished children to reclaim;
And earth and sky and sea revere
The love of Him who sent You here.
And we are jubilant today,
For You have washed our guilt away.
O hear the glad new song we sing
On this, the birth of Christ our King!
O Savior of our fallen race,
The world will see Your radiant face.
For You who came to us before
Will come again and all restore.
Let songs of praise Your name adorn,
O Christ, Redeemer, virgin-born
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore.
What I most appreciate about this hymn is its theological fullness, meaning its scope traverses beyond the events of Christ's birth and atoning work--as magnificent as these are! This hymn calls our minds to include and ponder the sweetness of Trinitarian fellowship before the dawn of time. It also encourages us to consider that which is to come: Christ's glorious return. Consider these verses regarding such themes, and then enjoy a couple soul-enriching renditions:
John 17:1-5 - When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
John 17:24-26 - Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 14:1-3 - Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Philippians 2:8-11 - And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 1:5b-7 - To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Revelation 21:1-5 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."
The next post will focus on a 12-stanza, German Christmas carol written by Martin Luther. Yes, he wrote more than A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Until then, keep singing!