I Know That My Redeemer Lives, ELW 619 and LBW 352
1 I know that my Redeemer Lives!
what comfort this sweet sentence gives!
he lives, he lives, who once was dead;
he lives, my ever-living head!
2 He lives triumphant from the grave;
he lives eternally to save;
he lives exalted, throned above;
he lives to rule his church in love.
3 he lives to grant me rich supply;
he lives to guide me with his eye;
he lives to comfort me when faint;
he lives to hear my soul's complaint.
4 he lives to silence all my fears;
he lives to wipe away my tears;
he lives to calm my troubled heart;
he lives all blessings to impart.
5 He lives to bless me with his love;
he lives to plead for me above;
he lives my hungry soul to feed;
he lives to help in time of need.
6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly friend;
he lives and loves me to the end;
he lives, and while he lives, I'll sing;
he lives, my prophet, priest and king!
7 He lives and grants me daily breath;
he lives, and I shall conquer death;
he lives my mansion to prepare;
he lives to bring me safely there.
8 He lives, all glory to his name!
he lives, my Savior, still the same;
what joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!
Devotion
We return to the words of Job in this beloved hymn, yet with a much different feeling about them. While Job was grasping at something that could give him hope in the midst of inexplicable grief, Samuel Medley’s lyrics see through the lens of the resurrection. We know that our redeemer lives because we believe the Easter story is true. And that story makes a world of difference for us. It changes everything. Jesus gives us hope. Jesus gives us promise. Jesus gives us reassurance that we are his, in times of sorrow and times of joy.
And because this is true, Medley writes, we share in blessing upon blessing. Read all eight verses of this hymn to get a glimpse of those blessings. They paint a truly wondrous picture of God’s abundant love.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for sharing yourself, your life, your mercy and your love with me – today, and every day. Amen.