Freedom

Another in our Advent hymns from Isaiah ...

This week's hymn comes from Isaiah 61, the passage Jesus read in the synagogue as he announced that he himself was the fulfillment of this prophecy, the long-awaited Messiah. "Today," he said, "this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) What scripture? This, the basis of today's Advent hymn:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim libery to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor ... (61:1-3)

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,
the Savior promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne,
and every voice a song.
   He comes the prisoner to release
   in Satan's bondage held;
   The gates of brass before him burst,
   the iron fetters yield.
He come the broken heart to bind,
the bleeding soul to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to enrich the humble poor.
   Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
   thy welcome shall proclaim;
   and heaven's eternal arches ring
   with thy beloved name.

Philip Doddridge

from Isaiah 61

Promise

The Choir Bible Study is working through Isaiah 40 - 66 this year. (We meet in the choir room during the 9:30 service, on Sundays the choir sings, after choir leaves the loft. All are welcome.) To track our studies in Isaiah, check out Harry Hoffner's blog:

For these weeks of Advent, I will be sharing seasonal songs and hymns that come from Isaiah. Not all will be familiar to you, but you are likely to catch Isaiah's voice in them. This week's hymn, for example:

The voice of God goes out to all the world;
his glory speaks across the universe.
The great King's herald cries from star to star:
"With power, with justice, he will walk his way!"
     The Lord has said, "Receive my messenger,
     my promise to the world, my pledge made fresh,
     a lamp to every nation, light from light:
     with power, with justice, he will walk his way!
"The broken reed he will not trample down,
nor set his heel upon the dying flame.
he binds the wounds, and health is in his hand:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way!
     "Anointed with the Spirit and with power,
     he comes to crown with comfort all the weak,
     to show the face of justice to the poor:
     with power, with justice, he will walk his way!
"His touch will bless the eyes that darkness held,
the lame shall run, the halting tongue shall sing,
and prisoners laugh in light and liberty:
with power, with justice, he will walk his way!"

Paul Inwood (1972, c Mayhew McCrimmon, Ltd.)

Based on Isaiah 42:3; 51:1-3

Comfort

After a restless and somewhat dark overture, the tenor soloist sounds the theme of Messiah: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." And so begins what we think of as the Christmas portion of the great oratorio. But most of Part I is Advent, rehearsing the promises and prophecies that precede the next (and only other) instrumental portion - the "Pastoral Symphony." And in a few short movements the nativity (Christmas proper) story is told. Part I ends with the life of Jesus, still comforting God's people. "His yoke is easy, and his burden is light."

Nearly all the "Advent" portion of Messiah is from Isaiah, and that magisterial prophet continues to speak throughout Part I. Because of Messiah - and many, many other songs, hymns, and compositions of the season -  Isaiah is sort of "the Christmas prophet." Rather, we should say, the Advent prophet, for he speaks of the Incarnation and the Return (the second advent) of the Messiah.

The Choir Bible Study is working through Isaiah 40 - 66 this year. (We meet in the choir room during the 9:30 service, on Sundays the choir sings, after choir leaves the loft. All are welcome.) So maybe I'm just Isaiah-crazy these days. Still, for these weeks of Advent, I will be sharing seasonal songs and hymns that come from that prophet.

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak of peace, thus saith our God;
comforth those who sit in darkness,
mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them,
tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over.
   Hark, the voice of one that crieth
   in the desert far and near,
   calling us to new repentance
   since the kingdom now is here.
   Oh, that waarning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way;
   let the valleys rise to meet him and the hills bow down to greet him.
Make ye straight what once was crooked,
make the rougher places plain;
let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad;
and all flesh shall see the token that his word is never broken.

from Isaiah 40

text by Johannes Llearius (1671), translated Catherine Winkworth