Archives for June 21, 2015

Devotion

I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
by pow'r of faith, Christ's incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan River,
his cross of death for my salvation,
his bursting from the spiced tomb,
his riding up the heav'nly way,
his coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature has creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
salvation is of Christ the Lord!

These are the words of verse 4 in the 1978 LBW version, but omitted in the ELW version of 2006:

"I bind unto myself today
The pow'r of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide,
his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech,
His heav'nly host to be my guard."

A number of emotions have accompanied our journey this week. There was humility. We visited this stop with Job on Monday. In fear on Tuesday we set out to sea. We mounted up to heaven and plunged to the depths of despair. On Wednesday we were awesome as we heard reassurance of God's grace. On Thursday we seemed to have it handled. But on Friday we lost our nerve. "Jesus, don't you care?!"

Yes, Jesus cares! Jesus is God's ear to hearken. He is the wisdom of God to teach. Jesus is God's hand to be our guide and shield in the storms of life. He is all we need to know about God's plans—right Job?!