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

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

LSB #583 "God Has Spoken by His Prophets"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:1-14; 12:44-46, 49-50; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Hebrews 1:1-3:  "1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"

John 1:1-14:  "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

"6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.  8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

"9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.  10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

"14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 12:44-46:  "44 And Jesus cried out and said, 'Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.  45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.  46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.'"

John 12:49-50:  "49 'For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment - what to say and what to speak.  50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life.  What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.'"

1 Corinthians 2:12-13:  "12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."

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Hebrews 1:1-3 appears at the beginning of the first verse ("God has spoken by His prophets") and the beginning of the second verse ("God has spoken by Christ Jesus").  Most of the second verse, however, comes from the passages from John, although there is some overlap between these citations.  John 12:49-50 could also be cited for "God has spoken by Christ Jesus," and Hebrews 1:1-3, John 1:1-14, and John 12:44-46 could all be cited for "Brightness of the Father's glory" and "Light of Light, to earth descending."

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 appears at the beginning of the third verse:  "God is speaking by His Spirit."

The first and third verses end with the line "God the first, and God the last," which is a description from Revelation (21:6; 22:13).