This Advent hymn was written in Johann G. Olearius in 1671 and translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1863. The words are based on Isaiah 40, which is the classic chapter of expectant waiting in the prophet and in the entire Old Testament. These opening verses of Isaiah were picked up by three of the four Gospel writers as the opening to their Gospels. It speaks of a people longing for salvation and peace. It speaks of a people longing for comfort. The Gospel writers appropriated the verses because they knew that the peace had come in Christ.
"Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
comfort those who sit in darkness,
mourning 'neath their sorrow's 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.
"For the herald's voice is crying
in the desert far and near,
bidding all men 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 the earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that his word is never broken."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment