Text: 1 Kings 17:8-24
Hymns: 617, O Lord, We Praise Thee; 454, Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle
Kretzmann Commentary: 1 and 2 Kings
The accompaniment for 454 was recorded at the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the grounds of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, when Cantor Beethe and I were there in January.
The story of Elijah is worth and has received a lot of study. Mendelssohn wrote a wonderful cantata on his story. Most people remember Elijah and the prophets of Baal, which is indeed a cool story, but not as many remember that Elijah with God’s help raised a child from the dead and made a little flour and oil go a long way.
The hymns of course reflect the institution of the Lord’s Supper and Christ’s final victory over sin, death, and the devil.
617 Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House.
454 Music: © 1967 Concordia Publishing House.
All rights reserved.
Podcast under OneLicense.Net A-718131.
O Lord, We Praise Thee
- O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee.
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flourish.
O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary
That our sins and sorrow did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear and need:
O Lord, have mercy! - Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast thereof remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
O Lord, have mercy! - May God bestow on us His grace and favor
That we follow Christ our Savior
And live together here in love and union
Nor despise this blessed Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heav’n-ly minded He make us;
Give Thy church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity;
O Lord, have mercy!
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle
- Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle,
Sing the ending of the fray;
Now above the cross, the trophy,
Sound the loud triumphant lay:
Tell how Christ the world’s Redeemer,
As a victim won the day. - Tell how, when at length the fullness,
Of th’appointed time was come,
He, the Word, was born of woman,
Left for us His Father’s home;
Blazed the path of true obedience,
Shone as light amidst the gloom. - Thus, with thirty years accomplished,
He went forth from Nazareth,
Destined, dedicated, willing,
Did His work, and met His death.
Like a lamb He humbly yielded
On the cross His dying breath. - Faithful cross, true sign of triumph,
Be for all the noblest tree,
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit thine equal be;
Symbol of the world’s redemption,
For the weight that hung on thee! - Unto God be praise and glory;
To the Father and the Son;
To the eternal Spirit honor
Now and evermore be done;
Praise and glory in the highest
While the timeless ages run.
