"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 29 January 2017 "Hail to the Lord's Anointed" (ELW 311)

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 29 January 2017 "Hail to the Lord's Anointed" (ELW 311)
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"Hail to the Lord's Anointed" (ELW 311)
1. Hail to the Lord's anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
your reign on earth begun!
You come to break oppression,
to set the captive free,
to take away transgression
and rule in equity.
2. You come with rescue speedy
to those who suffer wrong,
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in your sight.
3. You shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers,
spring in your path to birth.
Before you on the mountains
shall peace, the herald, go;
and righteousness in fountains
from hill to valley flow.
4. Kings shall fall down before you,
and gold and incense bring;
all nations shall adore you,
your praise all people sing.
To you shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
your kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.
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Advent begins the church year with urgent whispers of someone coming. Christmas follows with the festal shout, "He's here!" Epiphany is then the season of revelation as we ask, "Just who is he?" The final verse of today's hymn recalls the time when kings from the east arrived to bring the Christ child royal gifts. Yet, the hymn also calls us who sing to set our faces toward the future. The kings who greeted and worshiped the Christ child so long ago were not the only royalty to take notice. Herod did, too; but he responded in fear. Not one stanza of our hymn mentions this political fear such as Herod's, which is tyranny. Instead, we sing the proclamation of a coming time when nations, leaders and kings will join in the chorus of adoration beside the poor, captive, weak and needy, welcoming the chosen one who brings love, joy and hope as marks of his eternal reign.
Holy God, we have long waited for love, joy and hope to come among us. This is our Advent hope and our Christmas joy. Reveal yourself to us now in this season after the Epiphany, giving us a foretaste of the kingdom of grace and peace that you will inaugurate among us forever. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.
Natalie Hall, '09
Canon for Evangelism and Faith Formation, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh-------