Sharper Iron — The Hymns of Advent: Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

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Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #336, “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending.”

This Advent text from Charles Wesley points us toward Christ’s coming on the Last Day. We look for His return expectantly, knowing that He is the One who was crucified for our sins. Everyone will see Jesus on that Day. Those who did not have faith in Him will see Him with terror, while those who loved Him will look with greatest joy upon the scars by which He won our salvation. In that joyful anticipation, we pray for the Day when Christ will clearly be seen and confessed as the only King over all.

“The Hymns of Advent” is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as He comes to us now in the means of grace and when He comes again in glory on the Last Day.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Lutheran Service Book 336

1 Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for ev’ry sinner slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of His train;
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.

2 Ev’ry eye shall now behold Him
Robed in glorious majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall their true Messiah see.

3 Those dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshipers.
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

4 Yea, amen, let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom as Thine own.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign, and Thou alone!

Text: Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending
Author: Charles Wesley, 1707-88
Tune: HELMSLEY
Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
Composer: Thomas Olivers, 1725-99