1. O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky:
we praise you for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.
2. The church from you, dear Master,
received the gift divine;
and still that light is lifted
o'er all the earth to shine.
It is the chart and compass
that, all life's voyage through,
mid mists and rocks and quicksands
still guides, O Christ, to you.
3. Oh, make your church, dear Savior,
a lamp of burnished gold
to bear before the nations
your true light, as of old;
oh, teach your wand'ring pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
till, clouds and darkness ended,
they see you face to face.
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This hymn is another that acknowledges that the only wisdom and truth we can have come from God and are incarnate in Christ. The hymn is structured to reflect on how we receive that wisdom and try to share it. God sends the incarnate Word of Wisdom and Truth to us in the form of Jesus Christ. That Word is a lantern that pierces the darkness of our hearts to allow this wisdom in. The church is granted this gift from God as a place and community that carries on Christ's legacy and continues to preach God's wisdom to help us make it through this life. Finally, we ask for God to help us as the church because we know we can't do it on our own. Ultimately, we are reminded that all wisdom and truth come from God; what little we might have is not our own, but a gift of God's grace.
Dear God, help us to look to you for wisdom and to point to you when others seek wisdom from us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Dear God, help us to look to you for wisdom and to point to you when others seek wisdom from us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Peter Clark, '16
Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aurora, Ill.
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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