Hark, the Glad Sound! ELW 239
1 Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne
And every voice a song.
2 He comes the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held.
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
3 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.
4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Your welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With your beloved name.
Devotion
Once the seasons of Advent and Christmas have passed and our days of waiting for the Christ child are fulfilled, we can easily forget the deep yearning with which God’s people anticipated the coming of the Messiah. Centuries passed, and yet the events they hoped for—the release of prisoners, the binding of broken hearts—were still to come.
“Hark, the Glad Sound!” is one of more than four hundred texts written by Philip Doddridge (1702–1751), an English independent minister. He freely gave away his texts, which were not published until after his death. In this hymn, based on Sunday’s Old Testament lesson, he captures the passion of those who rejoice that their wait is over. “At last, the long-promised savior has come!” We approach the close of this Christmas cycle with thanks that the Messiah’s beloved name, no longer a mystery, is on our lips: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
Prayer
Eternal God, throughout the ages, we have seen that your promises are sure. Make of our hearts a throne for you, and put on our lips songs of praises for your wondrous deeds. Amen.