A Hymn of Triumph for Eastertide
“The Lord from Death Has Risen"
I have been woefully inactive on this blog, at least in comparison to previous times. As I conclude my undergraduate studies, the end of the term brings blissful chaos and crippling business to which I must attend. Nevertheless, I have found it in myself to write this hymn for Eastertide. It is a bit of an oddity, at least in comparison to conventional Eastertide hymnody.
I selected the tune KING’S LYNN, the tune of “By All Your Saints in Warfare” (LSB 517/18). It is a rather bombastic tune in D Minor, and its selection deviates slightly from conventional choral pieces usually paired with Eastertide hymnody. This tune is especially appropriate for reflective and melancholic pieces. My intent for this hymn is to bring special attention to the combative nature of our Lord’s Passion and its victorious fulfillment in the Resurrection. The battle in which Christ engaged and the conquering nature of our Lord’s Resurrection are specific themes that I hope sufficiently characterize the hymn as a whole.
I pray that this hymn is edifying to you, at least in some small way, as we celebrate the joy of this Eastertide season. Blessed Eastertide, dear friends!
1. The Lord from death has risen:
Ye Christians, now rejoice!
He burst death’s dreadful prison.
Now raise thy gladsome voice.
The grave could not contain Him,
Death’s vicious stain is gone.
Though evil men had slain Him,
Our victory is won!
2. At Christ’s humiliation
The devil laughed and jeered,
And at His crucifixion
His minions mocked and cheered.
Yet vain was Satan’s laughter
And short his victory,
For Christ, our Lord and Master,
Now lives victoriously.
3. The battle was stupendous,
The gain is beautiful,
God’s love for us tremendous,
His grace ineffable.
Though life and death contended,
The victory is life!
Christ, who to us descended,
Has conquered in the strife.
4. His Spirit Christ once yielded
When on the cross He died,
And us from darkness shielded
When He was crucified.
His armor is His merit,
His sword the living Word,
Which we, His heirs, inherit
As children of our Lord.
5. The Author of salvation,
Content to be betrayed
By His beloved creation,
Our sinful souls has stayed.
For He, with patience filling
Our loathsome, sinful place,
Each burden now is stilling
By virtue of His grace.
6. The darkness of transgression
Still plagues this bitter life,
Yet we now have salvation
And comfort from our strife.
No more the grave deceives us
And death our gladness steals,
For Christ our Lord receives us
And all our weakness heals.
7. Though Satan comes alluring,
Our Christian souls to break,
God’s mercy is enduring,
His love shall not forsake.
We conquer each transgression
And hells demented pow’rs.
Though death will be our portion,
Eternal life is ours!
8. Take heart, ye weary Christian,
Christ is thy God and Lord.
All things are His dominion,
The true and living Word.
Thy soul is in His keeping,
Thy treasure is His love:
Be gone, all shame and weeping!
I have a crown above.
9. Though life from us once parted
When into sin we fell,
God’s love our Lord regarded
And saved our souls from hell.
The grave is rent asunder,
The fear of death is gone!
And all shall stand in wonder
At what our God has done.
10. All praise to Christ our Victor,
The Father’s Son, our Lord,
Whom with the Holy Spirit
We worship and adore.
Sing praise to Him forever,
Our Triune God above!
To Him be praise and honor
And thankfulness and love.