Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 836)
1 Joyful, joyful we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee,
praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
2 All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird, and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in thee.
3 Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother,
all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine!
Text: Henry van Dyke; Music: Ludwig van Beethoven; Public Domain
Devotion
In the third verse of this hymn, God is described as “giving,” “forgiving,” and “ever blessing.” The hymn recognizes that not only do we benefit from God’s grace in giving us life and abundance, but God’s grace also extends to giving renewal to us when we have failed to reflect the love that has shined upon us. Each new day and each remembrance of our baptism may be a reminder of God’s forgiving and renewing of our lives.
God is a “well-spring” the hymn proclaims. Sometimes the world seems empty and without purpose. When our life seems to be surrounded by a dry desert, God is a deep source from beyond our tired selves. By that source we may be made new and flourish like an oasis. This new life that God provides is to be a life lived in community. The new life in Christ is celebrated in loving one another and in joyful praise at the shared world that God has made.
Prayer
Giving and forgiving God, awaken us to each new day as a day of your creating. Lead us in lives of joyful praise and deeds of love. Amen.