LBW 132, “Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain”
Devotion
Earlier this week we talked about singing as a response to Easter. Sometimes, and especially in the Reformation Geneva tradition, hymns were simply Psalms or Biblical texts set to music. We are not tied to such strictures. Yet it may be easy to tell just which Bible verses inspired a poet to pen a hymn. Here verse 1 is indebted to the biblical Exodus story. As the pursuing Egyptian soldiers bobbed up and down in the returned sea waters, Miriam and Moses led the fugitive Israel in song. Slavery was over! From here we quickly jump the centuries to Jesus' bout with death for our sins and his glorious triumph. Many New Testament passages could have inspired these words 1,300 years ago. And the call to song is as appropriate now as when John of Damascus (c. 696-745) penned them. Where would we be without Easter? Surely our hearts are gladdened every time we encounter words like these.
Prayer
Lord, we are glad you are not in your tomb anymore. Amen.