Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

LSB #447 "Jesus, in Your Dying Woes"

Instead of Biblical citations for the hymn as a whole, for this hymn, there are Biblical citations for each group of three verses, so this post requires a different format.  The hymn is "based on the seven last words of Christ spoken from the cross," and each group of three verses is drawn from one of these words.

First Word: Luke 23:34:  "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'  And they cast lots to divide his garments."

The text is public domain:
Jesus, in Your dying woes,
Even while Your life-blood flows,
Craving pardon for Your foes:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Savior, for our pardon sue
When our sins Your pangs renew,
For we know not what we do:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Oh, may we, who mercy need,
Be like You in heart and deed,
When with wrong our spirits bleed:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

Second Word: Luke 23:43:  "And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'"
Jesus, pitying the sighs
Of the thief, who near You dies,
Promising him paradise:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
May we in our guilt and shame
Still Your love and mercy claim,
Calling humbly on Your name:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
May our hearts to You incline
And their thoughts Your cross entwine.
Cheer our souls with hope divine:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

Third Word: John 19:26-27:  "26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!'  27 Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!'  And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home."
Jesus, loving to the end
Her whose heart Your sorrows rend,
And Your dearest human friend:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
May we in Your sorrows share,
For Your sake all peril dare,
And enjoy Your tender care:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
May we all Your loved ones be,
All one holy family,
Loving, since Your love we see:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

Fourth Word: Matthew 27:46:  "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"

Mark 15:34:  "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"
Jesus, whelmed in fears unknown,
With our evil left alone,
While no light from heav'n is shown:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
When we seem in vain to pray
And our hope seems far away,
In the darkness be our stay:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Though no Father seem to hear,
Though no light our spirits cheer,
May we know that God is near:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

Fifth Word: John 19:28:  "After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), 'I thirst.'"
Jesus, in Your thirst and pain,
While Your wounds Your lifeblood drain,
Thirsting more our love to gain:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Thirst for us in mercy still;
All Your holy work fulfill;
Satisfy Your loving will:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
May we thirst Your love to know.
Lead us in our sin and woe
Where the healing waters flow:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

Sixth Word: John 19:30:  "When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
Jesus, all our ransom paid,
All Your Father's will obeyed;
By Your suff'rings perfect made:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Save us in our soul's distress;
Be our help to cheer and bless
While we grow in holiness:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
Brighten all our heav'nward way
With an ever holier ray
Till we pass to perfect day:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

Seventh Word: Luke 23:46:  "Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!'  And having said this he breathed his last."
Jesus, all Your labor vast,
All Your woe and conflict past,
Yielding up Your soul at last:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
When the death shades round us low'r,
Guard us from the tempter's pow'r,
Keep us in that trial hour:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
May Your life and death supply
Grace to live and grace to die,
Grace to reach the home on high:
Hear us, holy Jesus.
+++

As far as the Biblical sources, there really isn't much to say about any of these groups of verses.  With a bit of elaboration, they're all drawn directly from what's cited.  The only comment I have is for the Fourth Word.  The verses mention "no light" and "in the darkness," which are both drawn from a detail in the verses preceding the two citations.  Matthew 27:45: "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour."  Mark 15:33:  "And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour."