December 18th : O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.
“Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over.”Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.Hark, the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Calling sinners to repentance,
Since the Kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him.Make ye straight what long was crooked;
Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.
This hymn was arranged by Johann Olearius in 1671, son of Rev. Olearius at St. Mary’s, Halle, Germany. Born in 1611, he lived a full life, studying at Wittenberg and later teaching at the same university, becoming a court pastor for a duke, and authoring both a Bible commentary and one of the most significant German hymnals of the 17th century: the Geistliche Singe-Kunst. Before he died in 1684, he had composed over 300 hymns for the church. However, we can thank Catherine Winkworth for her treasured work in translating so many German hymns into English, including “Tröstet, tröstet meine Lieben,” which we today know as “Comfort, comfort my people.”
The tune for this hymn, “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele,” was composed by the 16th-century French composer Louis Bourgeois. He composed several pieces for a Huguenot Psalter, including this tune in 1551 for Psalm 42. However, it is said he might have sourced the tune from an earlier chanson (French folk song) from 1510. The tune became decently popular and was used by several Lutheran pastors, hymnists, and composers, including Gerhardt and Bach. This beautiful hymn, in both text and music, captures the comfort and hope promised in the Scriptures and given to us even now.
Today is the second day of the O Antiphons, and on it we remember Christ as Adonai: our Lord. He is our Lord, our master, our ruler and lawgiver, but He is also our redeemer. The text of this hymn is almost word-for-word from Isaiah (Isa. 9:1-7, 40:1-11, 51:3). And what does the prophet record for us? God tells him to comfort His people. Why? Well, a lot of the prophet’s word had been judgment, law, and condemnation. We all hear this rightly if we think, “That was me. A lost, condemned sinner.” But God did not leave Israel there, nor does He leave us. The words of Isaiah are for us as well, these words of comfort and peace. Our sins are covered, our fight is over! Our rest is in God alone. Though we have “sinned against God in thought, word, and deed” and we “justly deserve His temporal and eternal punishment,” because of His Son, Jesus Christ, He has had mercy on us and forgiven us. So, listen! Listen to the words of Isaiah, of the angels, of Moses, and John the Baptizer (Isa. 9:1-7, 40:1-11, 51:3; Luke 2:8-20, 3:1-9). We are not left at the foot of Sinai but have been brought to Mount Zion. The rough places are made plain, the crooked way is straight, and it leads to the comfort and peace of Christ. He is our forerunner and our redeemer, and He has saved us. Our great light has come!
Blessings to you and yours,
~Madelyn Rose Craig
“347. Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.” The Lutheran Service Book. 2006.
“Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele.”Bach Cantatas Website.
“Johann Olearius (Hymn-Writer).” Bach Cantatas Website.
“Louis Bourgeois (Composer).” Bach Cantatas Website.
“FREU DICH SEHR*102, 256, 593, 596, 598″. Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Handbook.
Madelyn Rose Craig 