Advent Hymn 1

Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying

Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying // Wachet Auf — Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608 — LSB 516, LBW 31, ELW 436 — Tune: Wachet Auf

I have decided to start with this hymn, because in the LSB it is not in the “Advent” section, but actually in the “End Times” section, which are hymns more fitting for the readings that come at the end of the church year in the lectionary. In fact, in the LSB’s one year lectionary, the Gospel reading for the very last Sunday of the church year is from Matthew 25:1-13, which is one of the main passages that this hymn is based off of. That being said, this hymn, as with most “End Times” hymns is equally as applicable in my mind to the start of the church year in Advent, as to the end of the church year.

Matthew 25:1-13 tells the parable of the ten virgins. Five of whom were wise and had enough oil in their lamps to watch through the night for the coming of the bridegroom, and five of whom were foolish and left to get more oil before the bridegroom came and went without them. The passage ends with a warning about the second coming: “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour” (Matt 25:13 CSB).

But there is good news! We do not need to be afraid of that day, because we know that Christ has come once already, born as a helpless babe at Christmas, and died on the cross to pay for our sins so that when He comes again we can be with him if we believe. We do not need to do any works in order to prepare for His coming, we just need to have faith. Therefore, when we sing this hymn, we look forward to that Glorious day, praying for its coming, when we get to participate in the wedding feast of Jesus and His Church.

The tune is also wonderfully written, beautifully getting across the urgency with which we are being called to believe. And while having celebratory tones, it seems to be holding back, because it isn’t the actual celebration yet, fitting perfectly into this season of Advent where we are awaiting the celebration of Christmas, and awaiting the celebration of Heaven.

1. “Wake, awake! for night is flying,”
   The watchmen on the heights are crying;
   “Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
   Midnight hears the welcome voices
   And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
   “Oh, where are all you virgins wise?
   The Bridegroom come, awake!
   Your lamps with gladness take!
   Alleluia!
   With bridal care yourselves prepare
   To meet the Bridegroom, who is near.”

2. Zion hears the watchmen singing,
   And all her heart with joy is springing;
   She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
   For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
   The strong in grace, in truth victorious;
   Her star is ris’n, her light is come.
   Now come, Thou blessed One,
   Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
   Hail! Hosanna!
   We enter all the wedding hall
   To eat the supper at Thy call.

3. Now let all the heav’ns adore Thee,
   Let saints and angels sing before Thee
   With harp and cymbal’s 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!

Of all the Advent hymns I am going to be sharing that are originally written in German, this might be the only one I am more familiar with in English. Despite that I of course have to include the original German version as well.

1. “Wachet auf”, ruft uns die Stimme
   der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne,
   “wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!
   Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde”,
   sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:
   “Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?
   Wohlauf, der Bräut’gam kommt,
   steht auf, die Lampen nehmt!
   Halleluja!
   Macht euch bereit zu der Hochzeit,
   ihr müsset ihm entgegengehn!”

2. Zion hört die Wächter singen,
   das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen,
   sie wachet und steht eilend auf.
   Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig,
   von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig,
   ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf.
   Nun komm, du werte Kron,
   Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn!
   Hosianna!
   Wir folgen all zum Freudensaal
   und halten mit das Abendmahl.

3. Gloria sei dir gesungen
   mit Menschen- und mit Engelszungen,
   mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schön.
   Von zwölf Perlen sind die Tore
   an deiner Stadt; wir stehn im Chore
   der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.
   Kein Aug hat je gespürt,
   kein Ohr hat mehr gehört
   solche Freude.
   Des jauchzen wir und singen dir
   das Halleluja für und für.

God Bless you this first Sunday of Advent!

English Text from LSB

German text from Hymnary.org

Picture from: https://digitalmissioners.com/2019/08/matthew-251-13/