399. Epiphany 6 (Series B)

You bet I'm going to mention, once again, the fact that this blog conceals a Hymn 0, making this actually my 400th original hymn. The lessons for this service are 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 (optional 10:19-30) and Mark 1:40-45. The tune is NATIVITY by Henry Lahee (1855), which the Australian Lutheran Hymnal used with both "Come let us join our cheerful songs" and, believe it or not, "Joy to the world! the Lord is come." In Bountiful Hymns I'll place a dedication at the bottom of this hymn to Rev. Christopher Davis, who's been saying things like "Mercy is Jesus' thing" quite a lot lately.

Lord, who for mercy ever asked
And You did not provide?
Indeed, You loved man to the last;
To serve mankind You died.

Mercy has always been Your will,
The business You pursue,
Unthanked, rejected, bruised—it still
Pervades all that You do.

Therefore the leper's "If you will"
Fell on receptive ears.
Let Your kind love to him distill
Pure trust from our weak tears.

Help us a heartfelt "If you will"
To add unto our prayers,
Relying on Your love and skill,
Relinquishing our cares.

And though You answer "no" or "wait,"
Your mercy, still the same,
Will guide us through this threat'ning strait,
Unscorched by trying flame.

For while this age's death-throes last,
It kicks against Your will.
But soon the struggle will be past;
Come, Lord! Our hope fulfill!

For then, no more need churchly means
Your gifts to us supply,
When Adam's leprosy You cleanse,
Eve's offspring glorify.

EDIT: Here's the tune, in case you're curious.