CW 315 Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord
There’s nothing quite like the birth of a child. Seeing a child’s face for the first time brings joy to parents that may be difficult to describe unless you have experienced it. It was an especially joyous time for new father, Zechariah, who had evidently waited decades before welcoming a child into the world. A child who would be known as John the Baptist. With a heart filled with joy, Zechariah was moved by the Holy Spirit to prophesy about his son, John, but even more importantly, about the one whom John was preparing the way for, namely Jesus.
Several themes of Zechariah’s prophecy are incorporated into the hymn before us: “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord.” I encourage you to read his words which are often called the Song of Zechariah. You can find it in Luke 1:67-79. As Zechariah praised God for the promise of the Savior that would soon be fulfilled, we and all the earth have great reason to praise the Lord.
Stanza 1: Let the earth now praise the Lord, who has truly kept his word and at last to us did send Christ, the sinner’s help and friend.
“He’s a man of his word.” This is said of someone who is trustworthy. Someone who is reliable. How do we determine that? By observing whether that person is true to their word. Are they keeping their promises or breaking them?
Each one of us will have to admit, that we don’t keep our promises perfectly. We fall short. Our word is not always reliable. But we have One we can rely on that never falls short – the Lord. The fact that God sent Christ into the world is evidence that God keeps his word. He does what he says he will do. And that is great news for sinners like you and me, because it is for us Christ came.
Stanza 2: What the fathers most desired, what the prophets’ heart inspired, what they longed for many’‿a year stands fulfilled in glory here.
What do you long for? You will, no doubt, answer that question according to your stage in life. Teenagers can’t wait to get their driver’s license. Young adults long for a spouse. Parents yearn for children. The elderly wish for relief from their aches and pains.
Since sin came into the world, the people of the Old Testament longed for a Savior. A Savior which was first promised by God himself after the Fall into sin. Prophets like Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah recorded more prophesies about the coming Savior as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. What they all longed for, has arrived. That’s what we are celebrating during Advent and Christmas. The long-awaited Messiah is here in the person of Jesus Christ.
Stanza 3: Abram’s promised great reward, Zion’s helper, Jacob’s Lord— him of twofold race behold—truly came, as long foretold.
It may be a little strange to our ears to hear that Jesus is a ‘reward’ for Abram or Abraham. Nobody deserves Jesus, including Abraham. And yet, that is the way the gracious LORD spoke to Abraham in Genesis: “I am…your very great reward.”
By faith, Abraham trusted that God would be true to his promise: “In your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Acts 3:26) Jesus is the one through whom all people are helped with their problem of sin. How is this possible? Jesus is ‘of twofold race.’ He is not only of the human race, but he is also divine. He is God. As such he is a powerful helper and Lord!
Stanza 4: Savior, hear my welcome cry—loud hosannas lifted high! King of glory, enter in; cleanse my soul of ev’ry sin.
What was Jesus’ reception into the world like? God made sure it did not go unnoticed. He sent an angel to announce the birth to shepherds watching their flock by night. That angel was joined by a host of angels who joined their voices in praise to give God glory. The shepherds then saw the baby Jesus wrap in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger for themselves.
We too eagerly greet Jesus, our King of glory. Through faith, Jesus is welcome in our hearts and lives. He is welcome because we know what he does for us. He cleanses us of every sin because of what he accomplished in living, dying, and rising for us. '
Stanza 5: Crush for me the serpent’s head that, set free from doubt and dread, I may cling to you in faith, safely kept through life and death.
When something bad happens to you, perhaps you have said: “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.” Your worst enemy does not have the same sentiment about you. The Old Evil Foe who disguised himself as a serpent in the Garden of Eden wants the worst for you. He wants you to suffer with him. To accomplish that, he tries to get you to either doubt what God accomplished for you through Jesus or dread death as if Jesus accomplished nothing at all. But on the cross, Jesus crushed the serpent’s head which enables us to sing these words with another hymnwriter: Teach me to live, that I may dread the grave as little as my bed. Teach me to die, that so I may rise glorious at the awefull day.
Stanza 6: And, when you shall come again as a glorious king to reign, I with joy may see your face, freely ransomed by your grace.
Jesus’ second coming will be so much different than his first. The first time he came, he was “conceived by the Holy Spirit” and “born of the Virgin Mary.” The next and final time he comes, the voice of the archangel will be heard and so will the trumpet call of God. Unlike his first coming, every eye will see him this time around.
This will be Jesus’ grand entrance to claim for himself those he bought back with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death. Through faith in Jesus, we are included in that number.
The season of Advent is not only about anticipating the celebration of Christmas, but it is also anticipating King Jesus’ return. When he returns, he shall reign forever and ever. Through faith in King Jesus, we shall reign forever with him in the glory of heaven. Let the earth now praise the Lord!