Monday, October 17, 2022

389. Advent 2 (Series B)

The lessons for this service are Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-14 and Mark 1:1-8. This hymn focuses on the Epistle, backing up a few verses because the pericope chops off the premise of Peter's argument. The tune is HERR, WIE LANGE by Johann Crüger (1653), which the Australian Lutheran Hymnal ran with "God, from all eternity."

Men will come in these last days,
Scoffing at the Savior's pledges,
Walking in lust-driven ways,
Saying, "So much God alleges!
Lo, the former saints all sleeping!
As things were, they keep on keeping!"

But, beloved, they forget:
God's word called earth from the waters;
What existed overset,
Drowning Adam's sons and daughters.
Now that word, from flood preserving,
Lies in wait, a fire reserving.

Nor forget this crucial fact:
Time, to us, God strangely reckons.
Though we deem Him slow to act,
With longsuff'ring Jesus beckons,
Lest we die, to turn, repenting;
From our doom a while relenting.

Since all things will be dissolved
In a fire beyond all others,
Earth and all its works involved,
How then shall we live, dear brothers?
Walk in love, God's essence tasting,
His Day thereby seeking, hasting!

Seek, indeed, the world above,
For the saints a new-made dwelling;
Spurn not reconciling love,
Pride and wrath at heart expelling.
Though God's judgment you be craving,
Wait! His patience is your saving.

No comments: