ELW 416 and LBW 179, “At the Name of Jesus”
Devotion
We are in great debt to authors and composers who have blessed us with words and music to praise the Lord. “At the Name of Jesus,” by Caroline M. Noel (1817-1877), reflects the song the Apostle Paul uses in Philippians 2.
Exhorting believers in Philippi to bow to the name of Jesus called for courage. Settled by veterans of the Roman Legions, the people of Philippi were exhorted to bow before the statues of the emperor who claimed to be “lord," “savior” and even “god.” The emperor also claimed to be the guarantor of peace – the Pax Romana, which was enforced by the sword.
In the final stanza of the hymn, we sing, “This Lord Jesus shall return again in his Father’s glory, with his angel train; for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow, and our hearts confess him, king of glory now.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, loose our tongues to confess you as “king of glory now.” Amen.