HYMN: O Lord, Send Forth Your Holy Word

Well, I am once again at a pastor meeting, this time the Iowa District East Fall Pastors' Conference. You know what that means, right? Yep, I wrote another hymn text. I know it shocks you that such a faithful son of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod would not direct every last ounce of his attention to the conference speaker. I promise that I'm praying attention. We're listing to speakers, one of whom is talking about the LCMS battle for the inerrancy of Scripture which led to the 1974 walkout from the St. Louis seminary and a division of Synod; and the other about a more recent controversy about a group of so-called LCMS Lutherans with, shall we say (with an eye toward the Eighth Commandment), interesting view of race and racial purity.

Anyway, in our opening worship service we heard the words of Isaiah 55. In the midst of this glorious chapter of the Bible is one of my favorite pieces of Scripture: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (vv.10-11). Hearing these words, I was inspired (small-i, not capital i) to write. I don't think this is one of my best text, but it is faithful to the source material.

So here it is. As always, feedback is love.

O Lord, Send Forth Your Holy Word

1. O Lord, send forth Your holy Word

To lead us in Your ways,

That we may trust in You alone

For pardon all our days.

2. O Lord, send forth Your holy Word

To satisfy our need.

Oh, teach us evermore to strive

For worthy fruits indeed.

3. O Lord, send forth Your holy Word

As fall the snow and rain

So faith may sprout and grow within

And You in us shall reign.

4. O Lord, send forth Your holy Word

To draw Your children in.

Then send us forth to share Your love

With neighbors lost in sin.

5. O Lord, send forth Your holy Word,

And send it not in vain.

But let it work abundantly

As You in grace ordain.

CM (86 86)

Text: Alan Kornacki, Jr., b.1974

Tune: ST ANNE (LSB 733) or CONSOLATION (LSB 348)

Isaiah 55:1-11