HYMN: O Israel, Bless God the Lord

I hadn't written a hymn text in 2025. It's been a long six months, a busy six months. We've had big changes in the congregation where I serve, especially with the Senior Pastor leaving at the end of January, so I'm doing most of the work of two pastors right now. Whether or not she wants to see me, Faith doesn't get to see me until late in the evening for much of the week. And then the Kornackis moved to a house closer to the church (which has been a great blessing) when our former landlord decided to get out of the landlord business. It's been a crazy time in the life of the Kornacki family, and none of that lent itself to the time or inspiration it takes to write a hymn text.

As always seems to be the case, a church conference or convention afforded me both the opportunity and inspiration to write. I am at the triennial Convention of Iowa District East. So I've wanted to write a text based on the song of Zechariah: the Benedictus found in Luke 1:68-79. I love the Benedictus from the service Morning Prayer (sorry, can't seem to find a video of just the Benedictus from Morning Prayer) in Lutheran Service Book, and. I've spoken the words Zechariah sang directly to John over every the newly-made pastor at every Ordination I've been privileged to participate in through the years. Anyway, I've had probably a dozen aborted starts over the past 15 years. But something this morning popped into my head, and it didn't immediately lead me to a dead end. So here it is: the Benedictus in metric form. The selected tune is familiar from the text "O God of God, O Light of Light." As always, feedback is love.

By the way, I'm pretty sure I've used the name "Israel" as a two-syllable word in other places. In the first line of this text, it is a three-syllable word. I tend to pronounce it "IS-rye-el." (Yes, "rye" like the bread.) Your mileage may vary.

O Israel, Bless God the Lord

1. O Israel, bless God the Lord

Who visits us with saving grace. 

For Christ has come! In flesh, the Word

Reveals the Father’s loving face. 

King Davis’s Son, the long-foretold

From prophets’ lips in ancient days,

Has broken Satan’s mighty hold;

His daunting wrath our Savior stays. 

2. With mercy sweet he visits us

As vowed all who went before:

His covenant, a gracious trust,

To save us now and evermore. 

Delivered from our fearsome foe,

We serve our Father fearlessly.

In righteousness our days shall go

Before His face eternally. 

3. Now you shall go before the Lord,

And as you go, prepare His way.

To preach His great, forgiving Word

To vessels formed of living clay.

Proclaim the mercy of our God

Who visits us with endless grace:

Not darkened 'neath death's dreadful rod

But guided in the way of peace.

LMD 

O GROSSER GOTT (LSB 810)

Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79)