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

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

LSB #592 "Dearest Jesus, We Are Here"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Mark 10:13-16, John 3:3-6

Mark 10:13-16:  "13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.  14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.'  16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."

John 3:3-6:  "3 Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'  4 Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?'  5 Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'"

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The text is public domain:
Dearest Jesus, we are here,
Gladly Your command obeying;
With this child we now draw near
In response to Your own saying
That to You it shall be given
As a child and heir of heaven.
Your command is clear and plain,
And we would obey it duly:
"You must all be born again,
Heart and life renewing truly,
Born of water and the Spirit,
And My kingdom thus inherit."
Therefore we have come to You,
In our arms this infant bearing.
Truly here Your grace we view;
May this child, Your mercy sharing,
In Your arms be shielded ever,
Yours on earth and Yours forever.
Gracious Head, Your member own;
Shepherd, take Your lamb and feed it;
Prince of Peace, make here Your throne;
Way of Life, to heaven lead it;
Precious Vine, let nothing sever
From Your side this branch forever.
Now into Your heart we pour
Prayers that from our hearts proceeded.
Our petitions heav'nward soar;
May our hearts' desires be heeded!
Write the name we now have given;
Write it in the book of heaven!
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The text from Mark appears in the first and third verses, and the text from John appears in the second verse.

There are a multitude of references in the fourth verse.  "Gracious Head, Your member own" seems to refer to Ephesians 5:23:  "For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior."  "Shepherd, take Your lamb and feed it" refers to the Good Shepherd in John 10.  "Prince of Peace" comes from Isaiah 9:6; "Way of Life" from John 14:6 ("'I am the way, and the truth, and the life'"); and "Precious Vine, let nothing sever / From Your side this branch forever" from John 15.

"Write the name we now have given; / Write it in the book of heaven!" at the end of the fifth verse seems to come from Revelation 3:5:  "'The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.  I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.'"