Beloved in the Lord, as we continue our journey through Lutheran hymnody, this next one should be a favorite, but is, often times, overlooked. “Dear Christians One and All Rejoice” was written in 1523. It was the first hymn that Luther wrote for congregational use, and was included in the first Lutheran hymnal, published in 1524 under the name Etlich Cristlich lider (Some Christian Songs), a collection of eight hymns, taking its place as on the opening page.
?
Ten verses long, this hymn is rich in beauty and biblical and theological themes, our spiritual condition lost and fallen, the saving works and sacrifice of Christ, the folly of works righteousness, justification by faith, the ascension the sending of the Spirit. Each verse and stanza tells us a powerful story that builds as it points us to man’s wretched condition, incapable of saving himself, and God’s divine plan to send the Son for us and for our salvation in compassion and mercy. “From sin and sorrow set them free; slay bitter death for them that they may live with you forever.”
It points us, first, to Christ’s work, obeying the Father’s will, coming in lowly and meager estate, shedding his precious blood, providing for the Christian their ultimate victory over sin, death and the devil. Then it points us to the Spirit’s work, and how the Spirit will comfort and teach us, encouraging us to carry forth in the name of Christ so that we can continue the work of our precious Savior.
And what a joyous state that is, a perpetual state of hope and joy we have in Christ..
Each verse reminds us of the profound truth of our faith, and should draw us to a deeper understanding and appreciation for God and for the grace that He bestowed upon us.
That’s the beauty of this hymn. It isn’t simply beautiful music or beautiful words. It is a rich theological education, one that, in melody and verse, is meant to catechize the believer, teaching them the fundamentals of our Christian faith, and reinforce the core doctrine that makes us believers in Christ, disciples of Christ. It makes theology accessible and memorable to those in the church through the medium of song, reminding us that we’re not just taught through the teaching and hearing of solid, biblical Law and Gospel preaching. We are taught through the songs that we sing as all of our worship points to our theology.That’s important for us to remember, particularly because we sometimes forget this. The hymns we sing in Church matter. They are important. They aren’t just fillers in our liturgy, nor are they meant to simple drive an emotional response from us. These songs help to shape our understanding, our faith and our relationship with God. The words we sing have the power and the ability to mold our hearts and our minds, drawing us closer to the truth of Scriptures and deep our love for our Savior.
As you listen to “Dear Christians One and All Rejoice” I hope you listen to the words, and find hope and comfort in them, as you are filled with their rich, deep theological meaning.
