Having been encouraged to consider Charles Wesley’s hymn Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, most of the recordings of it which I own are set to the tune Hyfrydol. This is unbelievably superior to John Stainer’s tune Cross Of Jesus to which the hymn is set in the Australian Presbyterian Rejoice! hymnbook. (Can’t win them all.)
Without some awareness of Advent this sort of hymn will seem an odd choice for singing at this time of year. But Advent bids us marry our thoughts of the humble first coming of Jesus at His incarnation and birth with expectations of His triumphant and exalted return at the second coming.
Here are the lyrics:
1.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear Desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
2.
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
Here’s a youtube with a the track as recorded by Red Mountain Music.
mgpcpastor's blog 