How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds, ELW 620
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the heart's unrest;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.
Dear name! The rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!
By thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
The devil charges me in vain,
And I am owned a child.
O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
My prophet, priest and king,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.
How weak the effort of my heart,
How cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.
Till then I would thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of thy name
Refresh my soul in death!
Devotion
“You shall call his name Jesus,” were the words spoken to Mary by an angel. And in a dream, Joseph heard, “You shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.” Throughout our lives many people protect and rescue us, but only Jesus can save us from our sins.
Hospitalized and suffering with blurred vision from chemo therapy, Agnes told me, “The devil was here all night accusing me of wrongs I had done my whole life. If only I could have seen, I would have read God’s promises." She drank them in as I read from Romans 8: "There is now no condemnation for those who in Christ Jesus. ... (Nothing) in all creation shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Satan cowers when we call on the name of Jesus, say the name of Jesus and come into his presence. “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear. It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away all fear.”
Prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” Amen (Old Orthodox prayer)