[Charles Henrickson]

[cloudmountain]

But really, this prophecy applies to God’s people in any age. For we too have sinned. We too have experienced the consequences of our sin. We too need the comfort that this word of God speaks of and provides. So let’s hear it now as applying to us.

AMEN.

[Charles Henrickson]

Ping.

[lightman]

“Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People”
by Johann Olearius, 1635-1711
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

1. Comfort, comfort, ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over.

2. Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

3. Hark, the Herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance
Since the Kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

4. Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain;
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #61
Text: Is. 40:1-8
Author: Johann Olearius, 1671
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: “Troestet, troestet meine Lieben”
Tune: “Freu dich sehr”
1st Published in: _Genevan Psalter_, 1551

[lightman]

Decades ago a reworked the hymn text to fit the metre of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”....partly to satisfy the folks who beg to sing Christmas Carols during Advent, partly to put it to a tune “singable” by those not of German ancestry:

“Comfort, comfort ye my people
Proclaim peace!” says our God
Comfort those who in darkness sit
Beneath their sorrow’s load.
To God’s people now tell that
His pardon waits for them
Tell them their warfare is over
God reigns in peace again!

For now the herald’s voice does cry
in desert far and near
Calling one and all to repent
For God’s kingdom is near.
Oh, heed the Baptist’s warning
Prepare for God a way!
Let valleys rise to meet our God
Bow down, hills, at His Day.

Straight shall be what was long crooked
And rough places made plain!
Bow down your heart, make it humble
To greet His holy reign!
For our Lord’s awesome glory
On earth is shed abroad
And all flesh shall together see
The righteousness of God!