Phillip Nicolai
Matthew 23:6, 8-10
6 But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” 8 The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9 But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.
Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying LBW
1 Wake, awake, for night is flying, the watchmen on the heights are crying;
awake, Jerusalem, at last. Midnight hears the welcome voices,
and at the thrilling cry rejoices: “Come forth, you maidens! Night is past.
The bridegroom comes! Awake; your lamps with gladness take!” Alleluia!
Prepare yourselves to meet the Lord, whose light has stirred the waiting guard.
2 Zion hears the watchmen singing, and in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom, for her Lord comes down all-glorious,
the strong in grace, in truth victorious. Her star is ris’n; her light is come.
Oh, come, you Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God’s own Son. Sing hosanna!
We go until the halls we view where you have bid us dine with you.
3 Now let all the heav’ns adore you, and saints and angels sing before you.
The harps and cymbals all unite. Of one pearl each shining portal,
where, dwelling with the choir immortal, we gather round your dazzling light.
No eye has seen, no ear has yet been trained to hear, what joy is ours!
Crescendos rise; your halls resound; hosannas blend in cosmic sound.
Text: Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt.
Phillip Nicolai was a pastor in Germany in the late 16th century when the black plague swept through his city. He watched friends die, and then had to do their funerals, barely able to mourn one before he had to deal with another.
During this awful period, he wrote this hymn. Looking forward to that day when death and disease would be no more, when rejoicing and feasting would be the norm, when the return of Christ would give purpose and meaning to the travails of the present.
This perspective, in a hymn we often sing during the season prior to Christmas (Advent) can awake in us as well from the lethargy of a pandemic year. It will point us to the temporal nature of things of this world when times are good, and to the hope that is ours in the coming of a Messiah when things are not. When the times seem darkest, “Wake, Awake, for night is flying!”
Prayer: O coming Messiah, Lord of the past, present and future, fill our hearts with a desire for you, fill or eyes with the bright hope of tomorrow, fill our mouths with praises of your saving power. Help us to know that no matter how deep the night, your coming is as sure as the coming dawn. Amen.