Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying: Not Your Typical Second-Advent Hymn

A strange plague swept across Europe resulting in deaths of an estimated 25 million people. London, Florence, Venice, and Avignon took a hard hit as the viral plague, which came to be known as “The Black Death,” ravaged the cities. German cities were not hit as hard if compared to the death tolls of other…

How Do You Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways — An Analysis of the ‘Lobe Den Herren’ Text

One of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most popular sonnets is “How Do I Love Thee” where she lists the depth of her love for her husband through hyperbole, or exaggeration. Joachim Neander wrote “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” in the same vein by listing the reasons why we should praise God. However, instead of using…

Joachim Neander: The Wild Hymn Writer

The year was 1670. The Pietist movement was sweeping fast across the Protestant areas of Germany. Many sermons placed an emphasis on personal religion. And at St. Martin’s church in Bremen, it was no different. Using 1 Peter 1 as a basis of his sermon, the preacher gave a powerful call to a real spiritual rebirth,…

SDAH 559: Now Thank We All Are God

Text 1Now thank we all our Godwith heart and hands and voices,who wondrous things hath done,in whom His world rejoices;Who, from our mothers’ armshath blessed us on our waywith countless gifts of love,and still is ours today. 2O may this bounteous Godthrough all our life be near us,with ever joyful heartsand blessed peace to cheer…

SDAH 389: Light of Light, Enlighten Me

Text 1Light of light, enlighten me,Now anew the day is dawning;Sun of grace, the shadows flee;Brighten Thou my Sabbath morning;With Thy joyous sunshine blest,Happy is my day of rest. 2Let me with my heart today,Holy, holy, holy, singing,Rapt awhile from earth away,All my soul to Thee up springing,Have a foretaste inward givenHow they worship Thee…

SDAH 239: Jesus, Priceless Treasure

Text 1Jesus, priceless Treasure, Source of purest pleasure, Truest Friend to me:Ah! how long I’ve panted, And my heart has fainted, thirsting, Lord, for Thee.Thine I am, O spotless Lamb, I will suffer naught to hide Thee,Nought I ask beside Thee. 2In Thine arms I rest me; foes who would molest me Cannot reach me…

SDAH 226: Lift Up Your Heads

Text 1Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!Behold the King of glory waits;The King of kings is drawing near,The Savior of the world is here. 2The Lord is just, a helper tried;Mercy is ever at His side;His kingly crowns is holiness,His scepter, pity in distress. 3O blest the land, the city blest,Where Christ the Ruler…

SDAH 210: Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying

Text 1Wake, awake, for night is flying,The watchmen on the heights are crying,Awake, Jerusalem, arise!Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,His chariot wheels are nearer rolling,He comes; prepare, ye virgins wise.Rise up with willing feetGo forth, the Bridegroom meet; Alleluia!Bear through the night your well-trimmed light,Speed forth to join the marriage rite. 2Zion hears the watchmen singing,Her…

SDAH 001: Praise to the Lord

Text 1Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;Join ye in glad adoration! 2Praise to the Lord, Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!Hast thou…

SDAH 045: Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

Text 1Open now thy gates of beauty,Zion, let me enter there,Where my soul in joyful dutyWaits for God Who answers prayer.Oh, how blessed is this place,Filled with solace, light, and grace! 2Gracious God, I come before Thee,Come Thou also unto me;Where we find Thee and adore Thee,There a heav’n on earth must be.To my heart,…