An Early Christmas Present (and nearly perfect Advent hymn)

  • Elliot Grudem
  • Dec 3, 2009
  • Series: Resources

 

One of the benefits of sharing an office with Bruce Benedict (director of worship and community life at CTK and blogger) is I get to hear the music he creates.

There are many times over the last five years that I have benefitted from Bruce’s music. A couple of his songs are always in my “Top 25 Most Played” iTunes playlist. We sing his songs at CTK. I listen to his songs as I write my sermons. There are many reasons for these things, but perhaps the most important one is this: His music points me to Jesus.

I don’t think I’ve benefitted from one recording more than his most recent. Bruce recorded an old Advent hymn originally written by St. Ambrose (Fourth Century), updated by Martin Luther (Sixteenth Century), and first translated into English in the Nineteenth Century. Bruce’s recording of “Savior of the Nations, Come” is my new favorite Advent hymn.

The song echoes the longing of God’s people before Christ’s birth: “Savior of the nations, come / show yourself the virgin’s son.”

It speaks of Christ’s humiliation which, wrongly, I rarely consider during the Advent season: “Marvel heaven, wonder earth / that our God chose such a birth” and “Christ laid down his majesty / passed through dark Gethsemane”.

It speaks of Christ’s exaltation: “Though he left his Father’s home / Christ now sits on God’s own throne.”

It invites us to long for his return: “Christ in glory intercede / for your childrens’ suffering need. / Let your resurrecting power / soon complete the victory hour.”

It ends with glorious praise: “Praise to you, O Lord, we sing. / Praise to Christ, our newborn King! / With the Father, Spirit, one, / let your lasting kingdom come.”

“Savior of the Nations, Come” is a nearly perfect Advent hymn. It expresses joy and longing. It helps us give expression to the tension we feel, well expressed in my daughter’s question the other night: “Daddy, if Jesus has come, why do we still cry?” It encourages our praise. It points us to Jesus.

Bruce’s recording rightly captures the mood of the hymn and, in my mind, Advent. It’s solemn; it’s sobering; it’s hope-filled.

As this Advent season started, there was part of me that wanted to join the choirs of angels and sing in exaltation. There was also part of me that didn’t. I was grieving. But I wasn’t without hope.

“Savior of the Nation’s Come” helps remind me of that. It helps give expression to what I am feeling.

You can listen to Bruce’s recording here . You can read more about the hymn here.