The Luther Semonary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 26 December 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotional" “Creator of the Stars of Night” Verse 4 (ELW 245)

The Luther Semonary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 26 December 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotional" “Creator of the Stars of Night” Verse 4 (ELW 245)
4. Come in your holy might, we pray,
redeem us for eternal day;
defend us while we dwell below
from all assaults of our dread foe.
---------------------

Why these sobering words in an Advent hymn? Our culture excels in taking Christmas songs and retooling them. Popular versions of "What Child is This?" are especially widespread. Many replace the somber refrain of stanza two, "Nail, spear shall pierce him through, The cross be borne for me, for you" with the ending of the first stanza, "This, this, is Christ, the king . . ."
But something is lost in this reworking, namely the connection between the wondrous birth of Jesus and the fact of his death. The biblical texts maintain this connection: Joseph was to name him "Jesus" because he would save his people from their sins; the angels announced the birth of a Savior; and the magi brought gifts of myrrh, an embalming resin. Christmas is all about Jesus, but Jesus is all about the cross.
Let me never forget your passion and death, O Lord. Amen.
Mark Throntveit
Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament, Luther Seminary
“Creator of the Stars of Night” by Un­known au­thor, 7th Cen­tu­ry (Con­di­tor al­me si­de­rum); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in the Hymn­al Not­ed, 1852.

1. Creator of the stars of night,

Thy people’s everlasting light,

Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,

And hear Thy servants when they call.

2. Thou, grieving that the ancient curse

Should doom to death a universe,

Hast found the medicine, full of grace,

To save and heal a ruined race.

3. Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,

As drew the world to evening-tide;

Proceeding from a virgin shrine,

The spotless Victim all divine.

4. At Whose dread Name, majestic now,

All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;

And things celestial Thee shall own,

And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

5. O Thou Whose coming is with dread

To judge and doom the quick and dead,

Preserve us, while we dwell below,

From every insult of the foe.

6. To God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Spirit, Three in One,

Laud, honor, might, and glory be

From age to age eternally.

---------------------