Edward Caswall

For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
I Thessalonians 5:2-5

 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding! LBW 37

 1    Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding! “Christ is near,” we hear the cry.
     “Cast away the works of darkness, all you children of the day!”

2    Startled at the solemn warning, let the earthbound soul arise;
      Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling, shines upon the morning skies.

3    See the Lamb, so long expected, comes with pardon down from heav’n.
      Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, one and all, to be forgiv’n;

4    So, when next he comes in glory and the world is wrapped in fear,
      he will shield us with his mercy and with words of love draw near.

5    Honor, glory, might, dominion to the Father and the Son
      with the everliving Spirit while eternal ages run!

Text: Latin hymn, 1632; tr. Edward Caswall, 1814-1878, alt.

This is an ancient church hymn from the early 500’s, written about the time of the fall of the Roman Empire.  It tells the story of Christ from the perspective of Scripture. The “thrilling voice” is the voice of the prophets.  Christ “our sun” is an allusion to Malachi 4:2, the last of the great Messianic witnesses.   Verse 3 refers to John’s “lamb of God” who comes as a sacrifice for sin and verse 4, points to Revelation and its promise of God’s mercy and justice fulfilled in the end.  The last verse echoes the song of the seraphim around the throne of God at the judgment.

There are 66 books in the Bible, several thousand pages, but this ancient hymn was written so the average person, living at a time when reading and writing were not a luxury that only the very wealth could afford, could tell the story of the Messiah and how God kept his promises!  Not having a Bible, or being able to read one, could stand in the way of a witness for Jesus!

Prayer:  We find so many excuses for not talking about you, dear Lord, so help us to find ways to proclaim your love and mercy, your story, to the world.  Amen.