Two More Hymns

I squeezed in two more fits of hymn-writing this week. OK? The first hymn, which was part of my ongoing 14-hymn plan (of which I think there are still two hymns to go), takes a cue from Psalm 118 and a tune from a nice Scandinavian chorale for the Annunciation to look at the end of life from the point of view of both those who are dying and those they are leaving behind. Its tune is one that I tried to use for a previous hymn, but I couldn't make it go until I chose a different melody; I'm glad to see it work out at last. The second new hymn is based on some ideas I had been thinking about turning into an essay or homily, but decided to set down in verse on the spur of the moment.

254. For the Terminally Ill
Tune: MARIA, HUN ER EN JOMFRU REN by Johan Christian Gebauer (1808-84)

The hour has come for us to part,
Our paths a while dividing.
Still, one remains our mind and heart,
Our fellowship abiding.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

The fight has been with valor fought;
Now victory is certain.
Life’s busy scene at last has brought
A pause, a bow, a curtain.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

Rejoice with us whose pain now ends,
From sin this passage freeing.
Christ welcomes us, all sorrow mends;
Joy fills our inmost being.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

We who depart bless you who stay,
A few steps sooner gaining
The rest we crave, the peace we pray
For those still onward straining.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

We who remain bless you who leave,
Christ’s upward call obeying.
Not without comfort shall we grieve,
Nor claim one hour’s delaying.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

Dear brothers weep when any weep;
Dear sisters share in laughter.
If some must wake while others sleep,
We’ll meet again hereafter.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

The lambs of Jesus never die,
But sleep, and will awaken.
The day is coming, yea, is nigh
When every grave is shaken.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

When comes that day both bright and grim,
We’ll recognize each other;
More wondrously, shall we know Him:
Ourselves, and not another.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

Sing to the Lord, our strength and song,
Who is become salvation!
His right arm acts, is proven strong,
Is full of exaltation.
Behold, we shall not die but live –
Not die but live! – and tell God’s works forever.

255. Dignus Est Agnus Hymn (Revelation 5:12)
Tune: AXION ARNION by R. D. Fish, 2018

With loud voice, angels, testify;
All creatures, elders, peoples cry:
Worthy the Lamb who lives, though slain,
All that is His to claim again.

His is the pow’r to build and break;
Our pow’r He gives, and He can take.
How can we give Him any pow’rs
Except to trust His more than ours?

His are the riches, not our own;
We hold them, if at all, on loan.
What treasure dare we place above
The priceless value of His love?

His is the wisdom, though man’s mind
Makes haste His fallacy to find.
If we must give Him wisdom, how
But at His foolishness to bow?

His is the strength; He can endure
The guilt of all, though He is pure.
What strength can we to Him extend
But on His succor to depend?

His is the honor, His the grace
To call us to a higher place.
He served us, beaten, mocked and cursed;
How shall we, then, vie to be first?

His is the glory, He the sun
From which our pride must shrink and run.
What brilliance can our lives project
But, like the moon, His to reflect?

His is the blessing, speaking well
Of sinners, saving us from hell;
To Him what blessing can we give
But in His blessedness to live?

Worthy indeed is God the Son,
Who ransomed all mankind as one
With infinitely precious blood,
And made us kings and priests to God.

To King of kings and Lord of lords
Respond unnumbered heav’nly hordes:
Take up the scroll, unseal the page,
Thrice-holy God from age to age!