This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the spring concert of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, presented by Director John Reim. I was looking forward to the concert because it is an opportunity to hear the powerful Word of God presented and proclaimed in song. Music is indeed a gift of God, whatever form it takes, but few things have a way of piercing the heart like the Word of God presented in song:
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank Thee, While Thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!
The concert began with the entire assembly giving praise to the Matchless King and Flawless Creator joining in the words of Martin Franzmann’s hymn, “Thy Strong Word.” It is truly fitting to begin a concert of sacred music by turning back to the very beginning. It was in the beginning that the voice of God rang out with power and the result was the creation of the heavens and the earth, the very universe in which we live. Even as that Word was powerful to create, to call into being, the Word of God recorded in the Scriptures rings out with like power to reveal the Creator who is also Redeemer and Sanctifier and to establish and maintain living faith in the hearts of those who hear it.
We join to thank the LORD for His Creation of the heavens and the earth. We thank Him personally for having created each one of us. We thank Him for having granted the new birth, calling to life our spiritually dead hearts through the message of the Gospel of Christ.
We further ask that the LORD would enable us to sing his glory and to speak of His mercy now and to the generations to come until the LORD Himself returns. |
