Hymn Sing Meditations

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Christian Education – “These Are the Holy Ten Commands”

God’s law is holy and right and good. All that He says for us to do is according to His eternal goodwill. It is who He Himself is. God alone, the One whose name alone is holy, given for us to pray, praise, and give thanks. He gives us His Sabbath rest. He is the One who rested Himself in the tomb for you. He gives all good gifts through the governing authorities, first parents, then all others. He has given us the gift of life. He is Life itself and wants to use you and me to defend life for all. He joins husbands and wives together in lifelong union as a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church. He gives us all things. He gives all things to our neighbors. There is no need for us to take anything, but receive all as gift. He gives us a good name, good reputation. He gives us His reputation in Holy Baptism, calling us to defend our neighbor, to speak well of him and explain everything in the kindest way. He gives us new and clean and contrite hearts, hearts that seek all good from Him. We do not covet what is not ours, but rejoice in all that God has given us to do. We do this, not to be saved, but this is just how we live as Christians. The Law teaches us our sin in this life, but for refuge we flee to Christ. He is alone, Lord; He alone is mercy. Indeed, O Lord, have mercy.

The Lord’s Supper ~ “Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread”

The Lord gives bread. The Lord is Bread. “I am the bread of Life,” He says (Jn 6). And His flesh is the bread that He gives for the life of the world (Jn 6). He gave His flesh into death for you. His shed His blood, giving it, shedding it, as a ransom for many, for you (Mt 20). His blood cleanses us from all sins (1 Jn 1), even as He is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world (1 Jn 2). His Father gives daily bread to everyone, even to all evil people (Mt 5), but His Son, Christ ΙΗϹ, our Lord, gives those who are His own to eat of the bread of His presence—the bread of His flesh, which does not perish and waste away (Jn 6). His flesh is bread indeed, and His blood is drink indeed (Jn 6). Whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life, and Christ will raise Him up on the Last Day (Jn 6). His bread, indeed His flesh and blood, which He delivers in the Breaking of the Bread (Acts 2), is “the medicine that gives eternal life. It is the antidote to not die but to live in ΙΗϹ Christ forever.” (Ignatius, Ephesians 20)

The Church Triumphant ~ “We Praise You and Acknowledge You”

All creation worships its Creator. “The heavens declare the glory of God, the sky above His handiwork” (Ps 19). “The sun and moon and stars praise Him.” (Ps 148). “The sea roars [its praises,] the rivers clap their hands.” (Ps 98). “The great sea creatures, the beasts, and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl” (Ps 148) give their various utterances unto the LORD. All praise Him! The invisible heavenly hosts cry out to Him “who is and was and is to come, the Almighty!” (Rev 4) “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of His glory!” (Is 6) “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” (Rev 5) “Blessing, honor, glory, and might are His who sits on the throne, as well as the Lamb’s—forever and ever!” (Rev 5) We are members of this choir, singing out one constant Te Deum Laudamus: “We Praise You, O God.” Time and eternity, heaven and earth—the voices all combine “like the sound of many rushing waters!” (Rev 14) We take up one last “joyful shout before the LORD, the King,” (Ps 98) who bought us. Yet even “with trumpets and the sound of a horn” (Ps 98) “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor 2).