The themes of Advent are expectancy and patience.
Part of the tiredness which so many people feel is due to the frustration of waiting in an age conditioned to expect instant gratification.
Waiting seems hard work, but it’s actually an important discipline which is essential to developing contentment.
Today’s song is Comfort, Comfort Ye My People, Catherine Winkworth’s translation of Johannes G. Olearius’ lyrics based on Isaiah chapter 40. (Not to be confused with Handel’s Comfort Ye My People.)
You can read about the song’s background here.
The tune is an arrangement of a melody by Louis Bourgeois called Thirsting. Originally Bourgeois tunes were composed to accompany Psalms and this one is matched with Psalm 42 which begins with the words: As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God.
How appropriate given the longing desire for the coming of Christ so many of us experience at this time of year.
Here is an invitation to thirst for that which give lasting satisfaction.
The lyrics:
1.
Comfort, comfort ye my people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.
2
Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved his anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.
3
For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet him,
And the hills bow down to greet him.
4
Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain;
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad;
And all flesh shall see the token,
That his word is never broken.
This is about the best rendition that I could find on youtube which gives an idea of the melody at a reasonable pace. There are a few others. It seems to mostly be a choral piece these days, and while some of the others performances are nice, this one gives some idea of how a congregation could sing it.
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