Epiphany Hymns

'Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern' and 'Die Könige'

At Christmas, the Angels announced the Birth of Jesus to the Shepherds. But aside from those whom the shepherds told about this baby, no-one else knew that the Saviour of the World had been born. Epiphany is when we celebrate the appearance (greek word ‘epiphany’) of Christ, most specifically through the visit of the Magi.

Matthew Chapter 2 tells us of foreign wise men (Magi) from the East, who by watching the stars knew that a King was born of the jews. They wanted to worship him and offer him gifts, but when they arrived in Judea they lost track of the star, and so they went to the court of King Herod to inquire where this new king was born. By their inquiring of what the jewish scriptures said concerning the birth of the messiah, it became more widely known that the messiah had been born. In this manner Christ was revealed — or appeared.

While today is Epiphany, today is also the beginning of the Epiphany season, during which we focus more broadly on other ways in which Christ has appeared — His presentation in the temple (Luke 2), His first miracle at the Wedding of Cana (John 2), His Baptism by John the Baptist (Matt 3, Mark 1, Luke 3), and the Transfiguration (Matt 17, Mark 9, Luke 9) being the main ones. With so much material to cover, there are actually quite a few Epiphany hymns out there, most of which are not very well known. Even I must admit I only really know the two I am sharing today.

Those two are often sung as Christmas hymns as well, because their content still fits. I was considering including them both in the Christmas hymn series, but I had so many others I also wanted to talk about, that I figured it was easier to discuss them today. So, while Epiphany is not Christmas, consider this one bonus post on Christmas hymns!

The wise men following the Star. (Image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/5208126799)

Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern // O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright — Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) — LSB 395, LBW 76, ELW 308 — Tune: Wie Schön Leuchtet

“I, Jesus… am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Rev 22:16 CSB)

Depending who you ask, and how they interpret the text, this hymn could be for Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany. But the latter is the season all the hymnals place it in. Jesus is the light of the world, shining truth and beauty into our lives like a star. Whether we are celebrating his birth at Christmas, or His appearance to the world, let us pray that His light might shine into the lives of everyone. Let us pray that God might use us to shine His light of love into our neighbours lives. While the Morning star in the hymn is referring to Jesus, it can also be read as referring to the star that led the Magi to our Lord.

1. Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
   voll Gnad und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
   Die süße Wurzel Jesse.
   Du Sohn Davids aus Jakobs Stamm,
   Mein König und mein Bräutigam,
   hast mir mein Herz besessen;
   lieblich, freundlich,
   schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich,
   reich von Gaben,
   hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben.

2. Ei meine Perl, du werte Kron,
   wahr’ Gottes und Mariens Sohn,
   ein hochgeborner König!
   Mein Herz heißt dich ein Himmelsblum;
   dein süßes Evangelium
   ist lauter Milch und Honig.
   Ei mein Blümlein,
   Hosianna! Himmlisch Manna, das wir essen,
   deiner kann ich nicht vergessen!

3. Geuß sehr tief in das Herz hinein,
   du leuchtend Kleinod, edler Stein,
   mir deiner Liebe Flamme,
   Daß ich, o Herr, ein Gliedmaß bleib
   an deinem auserwählten Leib,
   ein Zweig an deinem Stamme.
   Nach dir wallt mir,
   mein Gemüte, Ewig Güte, bis es findet
   dich, des Liebe mich entzündet.

4. Von Gott kommt mir ein Freudenschein,
   wenn du mich mit den Augen dein
   gar freundlich tust anblicken.
   Herr Jesu, du mein trautes Gut,
   dein Wort, dein Geist, dein Leib und Blut
   mich innerlich erquicken.
   Nimm mich freundlich
   in dein Arme, und erbarme dich in Gnaden;
   auf dein Wort komm ich geladen.

5. Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held,
   du hast mich ewig vor der Welt
   in deinem Sohn geliebet.
   Dein Sohn hat mich ihm selbst vertraut,
   er ist mein Schatz, ich seine Braut,
   drum mich auch nichts betrübet.
   Eia, eia,
   himmlisch Leben wird er geben mir dort oben;
   ewig soll mein Herz ihn loben.

6. Zwingt die Saiten in Cythara
   und laßt die süße Musika
   ganz freudenreich erschallen,
   daß ich möge mit Jesulein,
   dem wunderschönen Bräut’gam mein,
   in steter Liebe wallen.
   Singet, springet,
   jubilieret, triumphieret, dankt dem Herren;
   groß ist der König der Ehren.

7. Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh,
   daß mein Schatz ist das A und O,
   der Anfang und das Ende.
   Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis
   aufnehmen in das Paradeis;
   des klopf ich in die Hände.
   Amen, Amen,
   komm, du schöne Freudenkrone, bleib nicht lange;
   deiner wart ich mit Verlangen.

Text from Hymnary.org

And, yet again I am also sharing the version of this from Michael Paetorius’ Christmas Day Mass

1. O morning star, how fair and bright
   Thou beamest forth in truth and light!
   O Sovereign meek and lowly!
   Sweet Root of Jesse, David's Son,
   My Lord and Bridegroom, Thou hast won
   My heart to love Thee solely!
   Lovely art Thou, fair and glorious,
   All victorious, Rich in blessing,
   Rule and might o'er all possessing.

2. O King high-born, Pearl dearly won,
   True Son of God and Mary's Son,
   Crown of exceeding glory!
   My heart calls Thee a Lily, Lord,
   Pure milk and honey is Thy Word,
   Thy sweetest Gospel-story.
   Rose of Sharon, hail! hosanna!
   Heavenly Manna, Feed us ever;
   Lord, I can forget Thee never!

3. Clear Jasper, Ruby fervent red,
   Deep, deep into my heart now shed
   Thy love's pure fire forever;
   Fill me with joy, grant me to be
   Thy member closely joined to Thee,
   Whom naught from Thee may sever;
   Toward Thee longing doth possess me:
   Come and bless me, For Thy gladness
   Eye and heart here pine in sadness.

4. But if Thou look on me in love,
   There straightway falls from God above
   A ray of purest pleasure;
   Thy Word and Spirit, flesh and blood,
   Refresh myself with heavenly food,
   Thou art my hidden Treasure.
   Let Thy grace, Lord, warm and cheer me,
   O draw near me; Thou hast taught us
   Thee to seek, since Thou hast sought us.

5. Lord God, my Father, mighty Shield,
   Thou in Thy Son art all revealed
   As Thou hast loved and known me:
   Thy Son hath me with Him betrothed,
   In His own whitest raiment clothed,
   He for His bride will own me.
   Hallelujah! Life in heaven
   Hath He given, With Him dwelling,
   Still shall I His praise be telling.

6. Then touch the chords of harp and lute,
   Let no sweet music now be mute,
   But joyously resounding,
   Tell of the marriage-feast, the bride,
   The heavenly Bridegroom at her side,
   'Mid love and joy abounding;
   Shout for triumph, loudly sing ye,
   Praises bring ye, Fall before Him,
   King of kings, let all adore Him!

7. Here rests my heart, and holds it fast;
   The Lord I love is First and Last,
   The End and the Beginning!
   I welcome death. for I shall rise
   Through Him to His own Paradise
   Above all tears and sinning.
   Amen! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus,
   Soon release us! With deep yearning
   Lord, we look for Thy returning!

Text from Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook via Hymnary.org (translation in all three modern hymnals are under copywrite)

Since this post is an add-on to the Christmas hymn series (even if Christmas is over), here are two more bonus Christmas hymns to the same tune that I found while looking through my hymnals.

All Hail to you O Blessed Morn — Johan Olof Wallin (1779-1839) — LBW 73 — Tune: Wie Schön Leuchtet

While more obviously a Christmas hymn, this one likewise is appropriate for both Christmas and Epiphany, as it talks of the Light of Jesus descending to earth. The metaphor of Jesus as a ‘morning’ is also wonderful; now that Jesus has come to earth, and been revealed to the nations, the long night of sin and suffering is over! Christmas and Epiphany are like a celestial sunrise of hope and new life!

1. All hail to thee, O blessed morn,
   To tidings long by prophets borne
   Hast thou fulfillment given;
   O sacred and immortal day,
   When unto earth, in glorious ray,
   Descends the grace of heaven!
   Young and old their voices blending,
   Praise are sending
   Unto heaven
   For the Saviour to us given.

2. Like other men, he tears will shed,
   Our sorrows share, and be our aid,
   Through his eternal power,
   The love of God on us bestow,
   And mingle in our cup of woe
   The drops of mercy’s shower;
   Dearly buying through his passion
   Our salvation,
   And to mortals
   Opening the heavenly portals.

3. He comes, for our redemption sent,
   And by his glory heaven is rent
   To close upon us never;
   Our blessèd Shepherd he would be,
   Whom we may follow faithfully
   To live with him forever,
   Unto realms of glory winging,
   Praises singing
   To the Father
   And the Son, and Spirit, ever.

Text from Hymnary.org

Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy Morn — Brigitte Katerine Boye (1742-1824) — LSB 391, LBW 43 — Tune: Wie Schön Leuchtet

A simple single verse to this same tune, it is fitting that this is the final Christmas hymn I am sharing, as it gives us a good summation of the Christmas story.

Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn,
A Savior unto us is born,
The Christ, the Lord of glory!
His lowly birth in Bethlehem
The angels from on high proclaim
And sing redemption's story!
My soul, extol
God's great favor;
Bless Him ever
For salvation;
Give Him praise and adoration!

Text from LSB

Die Könige // Three Kings from Persian Lands afar — Peter Cornelius (1824-1874)

This song (appropriate for both Christmas and Epiphany) is technically not a hymn, but rather a song specifically for a choir. However I love it so much I have to include and share it. Sung by a soloist accompanied by a choir singing “Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern” in the background, this song simply tells the story of the Three kings as they travel and look for baby Jesus. (Note, we don’t actually know how many Magi there were, and they probably weren’t actually kings. The first is assumed because there were three gifts they brought. The second is assumed because it is a good rhetorical device. And anyway it is evident that even if they didn’t have the political power of kings, they certainly had the wealth of kings.)

Drei Könige wandern aus Morgenland;
Ein Sternlein führt sie zum Jordanstrand.
In Juda fragen und forschen die drei,
Wo der neugeborene König sei?
Sie wollen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold
Dem Kinde spenden zum Opfersold.

Und hell erglänzet des Sternes Schein:
Zum Stalle gehen die Kön'ge ein;
Das Knäblein schaun sie wonniglich,
Anbetend neigen die Könige sich;
Sie bringen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold
Zum Opfer dar dem Knäblein hold.

O Menschenkind! halte treulich Schritt!
Die Kön'ge wandern, o wandre mit!
Der Stern der Liebe, der Gnade Stern
Erhelle dein Ziel, so du suchst den Herrn,
Und fehlen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold,
Schenke dein Herz dem Knäblein hold!

German Text from: https://oxfordsong.org/song/die-könige

Soloist:

Three Kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Mary’s child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The Kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.

Choir:

Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line,
For thee, my Bridegroom, King divine,
My soul with love o’erfloweth.

How brightly shines the morning star!
With grace and truth from heaven afar
Our Jesse tree now bloweth.

Thy word, Jesu, Inly feeds us,
Rightly leads us, Life bestowing.
Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing.

English text from: https://www.royalfreemusicsociety.org.uk/Archive/ArchCornKings.htm

God Bless you all! Remember the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.