THE WORD IN Song Hymn of the Day Studies for PROPERS SERIES B THREE-YEAR LECTIONARY Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from Quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040. Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. This work may be reproduced by a congregation for its own © 2018 Used with permission. use in the study of the Scriptures. Commercial reproduction, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Lutheran Service Book Propers of the Day © 2007 Concordia or reproduction for sale, of any portion of this work or of the St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 Publishing House. Used with permission. work as a whole, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. lcms.org/worship Quotations from the Small Catechism are © 1986 Concordia Publishing House. THREE-YEAR Hymn of the Day Studies for PROPERS SERIES B LECTIONARY Contents Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good . 1 From East to West . 3 O Day of Rest and Gladness . 5 Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You . 7 Lift High the Cross . 9 Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid . .11 O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth . .13 Evening and Morning . .15 When All the World Was Cursed . .17 In the Very Midst of Life . .19 Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head . .21 O Christ, Our True and Only Light . 23 Jesus, Priceless Treasure . 25 The Church’s One Foundation . 27 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds . 29 Entrust Your Days and Burdens . .31 Christ, the Life of All the Living . 33 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer . 35 Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor . 37 O God, My Faithful God . 39 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones . .41 Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain . 43 God Has Spoken by His Prophets . 45 By Grace I’m Saved . .47 If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee . 49 Praise the Almighty . .51 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness . 53 Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle . 55 The Royal Banners Forward Go . 57 Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us . 59 What Is the World to Me . .61 Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay. 63 Lord God, to Thee We Give All Praise . 65 Our Father, by Whose Name . 67 Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower . 69 Hope of the World . .71 O God of God, O Light of Light . 73 From God Can Nothing Move Me . 75 O Christ, Who Called the Twelve . 77 O God of Mercy, God of Might . 79 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God . .81 Salvation unto Us Has Come . 83 For All the Saints . 85 Lord of All Hopefulness . 87 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near . 89 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending . .91 Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good Lutheran Service Book 819 | study by Frank J. Pies Introduction No doubt you have asked it of yourself or talked about it ❚ According to the biblical witness in Is. 43:7, 20–21; 60:21; with others. It is one of the most basic questions of humani- Rom. 11:36; and Col. 1:15–16, what is the end purpose of ty. It concerns the meaning and goal of life. In simple terms, all creation? it may be stated, “What is the ultimate purpose of my being, existing and living?” The Lord God has made everything for His own sake. He If you were to answer this question solely on the basis has redeemed and sanctified His people for His glory and of human intellect and logic, the focus would probably be praise. Our ultimate goal in life is Christ (Phil. 1:21), to live an anthropocentric, man-centered one. If, however, you in His forgiveness and love, to live unto Him as children of drew upon and listened to the revelation of the Triune the heavenly Father by the Holy Spirit, all to the glory, laud God in Holy Scripture, the answer would be a theocentric, and honor of His holy name. God-centered, Christocentric, Christ- centered one, the In keeping with this purpose, Scripture repeatedly ex- correct one. horts us to praise and extol our God. To this end, the Hymn ❚ What are some of the things contrary to Scripture that of the Day serves us admirably. people embrace as the main purpose of their lives? Exploring the Scriptures In the LSB catalog of hymns suggested for use in the Divine ❚ What does Mark 2:13–17, the Gospel for Epiphany 8B and Service throughout the Church Year, “Sing Praise to God, Proper 3B, show us about Christ’s divine love for sinners the Highest Good” is selected as the Hymn of the Day on and His rescue of them? the basis of both the three-year and the one-year lectionar- ❚ How does Christ’s unequivocal promise in verse 33 of ies for a total of five separate Sundays. the Gospel for Epiphany 8A, Matt. 6:24–34, relate to the This frequency is a testimony to the hymn’s biblical Father’s tender care of His people? content and its expression of the central truths of the Faith woven throughout the fabric of Scripture. ❚ According to Mark 8:1–9, the Gospel for Trinity 7, how The Psalms appointed for these Sundays are in wonderful did Jesus view the crowd and supply their pressing need? concert and agreement with each other. What does this show us about Him and the Father’s gracious will for us revealed through the Son? ❚ What activity is “good” and “befits” God’s people? See Ps. 92:1 and Ps. 33:1–3. In the Small Catechism’s explanation of the First Article of ❚ What, therefore, are we called upon to do? Read Ps. 103:1. the Apostles’ Creed, the Christian confesses faith in God Why? See Ps. 115:1. and in His unmerited kindness by which He gives and sustains life. To praise God in the biblical sense is chiefly to proclaim ❚ How is this scriptural declaration in alignment with His person and marvelous works, reciting to Him what He the end statement of the explanation: “For all this it reveals and first says to us. is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him” (LSB, 322)? Exploring the Hymn Background ❚ Christians sometimes think that their service in the Johann Jakob Schütz (1640–1690) was a learned man, a church is not as important or valuable as that of the licensed attorney who practiced civil and canon law in the pastor or some other public servant. Why is this outlook city of Frankfort, Germany. Though not a public servant of wrong according to 1 Peter 2:4–5, 9–10? How does the Church, he was devoutly pious and zealous for the Faith. Schütz’s contribution as a hymn writer exemplify the He authored our hymn, which first appeared in his 1675 “priesthood of all believers”? tract, “A Small Book of Christian Encouragement.” Proper 3B, the Seventh Sunday after Trinity and the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany | Three-Year Lectionary 1 ❚ What does Rom. 12:3–8 tell us about the place and ❚ What light do Mark 10:17–18 and James 1:17 shed on the service of each member in Christ’s Body, the Church? goodness of God? What gifts and abilities have you received from the Lord ❚ What are some of the ways that God’s goodness and for use in His kingdom? power are manifested in His creation and preservation of all things? See Heb. 11:3; Ps. 100:3; Ps. 145:15–19; Matt. Though Schütz’s hymn was warmly welcomed in the 5:44–45. Lutheran Church as a strong, doctrinally pure paean of praise, Schütz himself eventually drifted from Lutheranism ❚ What works of the Lord are the highest revelation of and espoused teachings contrary to the Word of God. His goodness and love? See Heb. 1:1–3; Rom. 5:6–11; James 1:18. ❚ What warning emerges from this sad turn of events in Schütz’s life? How are Christians kept steadfast in the ❚ What comfort do you derive from knowing that God’s truth of God’s Word? See Eph. 4:11–16. “eye is never sleeping” and that “all things are just and good and right” in His ordering of everything? Text It is generally agreed that one of the most memorable Stanzas 3 and 4 praise God for blessing His people in the things about the hymn is its lovely, grand refrain, “To God kingdom of grace, His right-hand rule. The final stanza art- all praise and glory!” The repetition of this reverent sum- fully amplifies the hymn’s theme by calling upon the entire mons to God’s elect summarizes the hymn and reinforces confessing Church to glorify God and proclaim aloud the its theme, helping the singer remember that all praise and wondrous story of Christ. glory belong to God. ❚ When the distressed sinner acknowledges his need for ❚ What is the significance of the adjective “all” in the divine mercy and humbly seeks the Lord, what happens refrain? Why does all the glory belong to God? See Gen. (st. 3)? See Matt. 11:28; John 6:37. 32:9–10; Ps. 96:1–9; Is. 42:8; 1 Cor. 4:7.