Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (LBW 31, verse 3)
Devotion
1 Wake, awake, for night is flying,
the watchmen on the heights are crying;
awake, Jerusalem, at last.
Midnight hears the welcome voices,
and at the thrilling cry rejoices:
“Come forth, you maidens! Night is past.
The bridegroom comes! Awake;
your lamps with gladness take!”
Alleluia!
Prepare yourselves to meet the Lord,
whose light has stirred the waiting guard.
2 Zion hears the watchmen singing,
and in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom,
for her Lord comes down all-glorious,
the strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star is ris’n; her light is come.
Oh, come, you Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
Sing hosanna!
We go until the halls we view
where you have bid us dine with you.
3 Now let all the heav’ns adore you,
and saints and angels sing before you.
The harps and cymbals all unite.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
where, dwelling with the choir immortal,
we gather round your dazzling light.
No eye has seen, no ear
has yet been trained to hear,
what joy is ours!
Crescendos rise; your halls resound;
hosannas blend in cosmic sound.
Text: Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt.
In 1597, plague took the lives of half the population of Unna, Westphalia. This pivotal event greatly impacted Unna's Lutheran pastor, Philipp Nicolai. During those dark days Nicolai wrote, "O Jesus, how I wish that I might speak of Thee in shouts of joy like those of the choirs of angels! O how happy I should be to use my thoughts and talents in the service of Thy praise. How devoutly I should sing angelic hymns with heavenly melodies in the midst of the Christian congregation to Thy glory and honor forever!"
Subsequently, Nicolai devoted himself to gleaning scripture to use to better comfort believers and assure them of Christ's victory over sin and death. This led to the penning of this hymn often referred to as the "King of Chorales" — a joyous celebration of what is to come at the end of time.
While we often associate this hymn with Advent, it is very appropriate in these lazy days of summer and in "ordinary time" to remind us of the Cosmic Christ.
Prayer
Dear Lord, deliver me from all that would rob me of joy this day. Let me bask in your radiant light; teach me to sing in tune with the heavenly host; let Christ's love move me and move through me. Amen.