First Sunday Meditation: Every Believer Shall Behold Him

"Break forth joyously, sing together,

you wasted places of Jerusalem, for the Lord

has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem!

The Lord has made bare His holy arm before the eyes

of all the nations, revealing Himself as the One by

Whose direction the redeemed of Israel from

captivity is accomplished and all the ends of 

the earth shall witness the salvation of the Lord."

Isaiah 52:9-10

"Simeon took Him up in his arms and praised

and thanked God and said: "And now, Lord, You are

releasing Your servant to depart, leave this world in peace,

according to Your word.

For with my own eyes I have seen my salvation,

Which You have ordained and prepared before the presence

of all the peoples. A Light for revelation to the Gentiles

to disclose what was before unknown and to bring

praise and honor and glory to Your people, Israel."

Luke 2:28-32

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

(1450-52)

Fra Angelico

(1395-1455)

Italian Early Renaissance painter

Light of the Gentile nations,

Thy people's joy and love,

Drawn by Thy Spirit hither,

We gladly come to prove

Thy presence in Thy temple,

And wait with earnest mind,

As Simeon once had waited

His Savior God to find.

Yes, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,

E'en now in ev'ry place,

Where Thy true Word hath promised

That they should see Thy face.

Thou yet wilt gently grant us,

Who gather round Thee here

In faith's strong arms to bear Thee,

As once that aged seer.

Be Thou our joy, our brightness,

That shines 'mid pain and loss,

Our sun in times of terror,

The glory round our cross;

A glow in sinking spirits,

A sunbeam in distress,

Physician, friend in sickness;

In death our happiness.

Let us, O Lord be faithful

With Simeon to the end,

That so his dying song may

From all our hearts ascend;

"O Lord, now let thy servant

Depart in peace for aye,

Since I have seen my Savior,

Have here beheld His day."

My Savior, I behold Thee

Now with the eye of faith;

No foe of Thee can rob me,

Though bitter words he saith;

Within Thy heart abiding

As Thou dost dwell in me,

No pain, no death has terrors

To part my soul from Thee!

"Light Of The Gentile Nations"

(1674)

Johann Franck

(1618-1677)

German hymn writer

This song was translated from German to English by

Catherine Winkworth

(1827-1878)

English translator

She was well-known for bringing German chorale

tradition to the English speaking world.