Wachet Auf

Yesterday morning in the vestry, Pastor Weedon and I were discussing with one of our fieldworkers the life story of Philipp Nicolai, author and composer of both the King and Queen of the Lutheran Chorales. Of course our attention was specifically on the King, Wachet Auf. Like many parishes we have additional Divine Services over the weekend to spread out our membership. In our case, we have five Divine Services rather than our traditional three. This just makes for more joy as the Pastors get to sing Wake, Awake for Night is Flying a few more times.

I mentioned to the fieldworker that a hymn of such glorious confession, borne out of such immense suffering, puts all modern praise music to shame. The plague took 1300 from Nicholai’s town; he presided over funeral after funeral and still, he wrote with confidence based on the Word of God - St. Matthew 25:1-13. For 400 years the Biblical call to watchfulness, and anticipatory joy has been sung by Lutherans, and such singing will continue until that day when the choir immortal will be seen.

Then there is BWV 140, where Bach takes what Nicholai first did and elevates it to the sublime. Take the 30 minutes and listen to it today. And look forward to the day of Christ’s return when the singing and music will be beyond even these most glorious creations of man.

Now let all the heavn’s adore Thee,

Let saints and angels sing before Thee

with harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.

Of one pearl each shining portal,

Where joining with the choir immortal,

We gather round Thy radiant Throne.

No eye has seen the light,

No ear has heard the might,

Of Thy glory;

Therefore will we

Eternally sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee.