“O Holy Spirit, God and Lord"
A hymn for the Octave of Pentecost
I have written a hymn for the Octave of Pentecost, which comes to a close tomorrow with the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. This hymn was written in conjunction with an article I hope to publish in the coming days, in which I explore pneumatology and reflect on its relation to Trinitarian theology and Christology. I have regained a bit of traction in hymnwriting, at least for the moment. It is not nearly as natural to me, or as edifying to others, as the great hymnists that have come before us. Nevertheless, I find that it is a noble and illuminating task.
The hymn is written to the tune of “We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth” (LSB 382), Gelobet Siest Du. It is a Christmas hymn, but I enjoy the tune and found that it paired well with the hymn I have written. I pray that it is a blessing to you, and that it is an edifying addition to the current stream of content on the blog during this Octave of Pentecost.
1. O Holy Spirit, God and Lord,
Thou art by all things adored,
For with the Father and the Son
Thou art our God, the Three in One.
Lord, have mercy!
2. Thou art by faith to us revealed—
No more is Thy work concealed.
Through Scripture Thou hast come to us
To be our light and righteousness.
Lord, have mercy!
3. Disordered pow’r is not Thy plight,
But by faith and not by sight
Do we, as Christians, know Thy grace
And may Thy gifts of wisdom trace.
Lord, have mercy!
4. O Spirit, pure and holy fire,
Zealous faith in us inspire
That we by faith and love proclaim
With all the saints our Savior’s name.
Lord, have mercy!
5. As Thou hast called us by the Word
To be children of our Lord,
Enlighten us with gifts of light
And sanctify us by Thy might.
Lord, have mercy!
6. From all earth’s ends Thy people bring
That they would in glory sing
Unending praises to the Son,
In whom the Christian Church is one.
Lord, have mercy!
7. Oh, point us ever to the cross
Where our Lord endured great loss,
And may the Church with Christ remain
And evermore His love proclaim.
Lord, have mercy!
8. Keep us from error and from blame—
Grant that we Thy grace would claim.
May no false doctrines us beguile,
And wickedness may we revile.
Lord, have mercy!
9. O Spirit, Thou art God and Lord,
Bound unto that sacred Word
Through which the Holy Trinity
Reveals Himself as One in Three.
Lord, have mercy!
10. We praise Thee blesséd Trinity,
Three in One and One in Three—
The Father, Son, and Spirit blest:
Thou art by all the world confessed.
Lord, have mercy!
Amen.