“At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” is an ancient hymn. The writing of this hymn dates somewhere between the 5th and 10th centuries. It was commonly sung throughout Europe and was the hymn for Vespers during the Easter season. It continues to be sung throughout the Christian church today because it is a true gem of our hymnody.
A quote from the Christian Worship Handbook: “The hymn abounds in references to the Pascal services, especially those of Easter Evening, when the catechumens, clothed in white, were first baptized and then confirmed, and so went to their first communion on Easter morning.” At our congregation of Water of Life of Racine and Caledonia, WI, we sing “At the Lamb’s High Feast” during the Easter Vigil between the Service of Holy Baptism and the Service of Holy Communion, after the children are baptized and before the adults are confirmed.
If you haven’t celebrated an Easter Vigil before, the vigil is an evening service of Scripture readings and prayers the night before Easter where believers vigilantly and eagerly wait and watch for the celebration of the Savior’s deliverance. Old Testament believers waited through the night of the Passover for God to deliver them from the Egyptians. The midnight worship reported in Acts 20:7-12 is another example of late-night waiting and watching. One might say that Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services are vigils of sorts. Coming together for a vigil helps believers practice waiting patiently for God to reveal his will in his own good time.
The Easter Vigil is one of the most well-known, historic, and ancient rites of the Christian Church. Early records indicate that it may have been celebrated in Jerusalem already by the second century, and it soon spread to the rest of the church.
Verse one: At the Lamb’s high feast we sing praise to our victorious King, who has washed us in the tide flowing from his piercèd side. Alleluia!
In the Divine Service we pray, “We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament.” The Lamb’s High Feast is the Lord’s Supper. It is also the wedding supper of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. We eat and drink the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was slain once for all to wash away our sins. He is both the Host and the Meal.
The red Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal had omitted three original verses. They have been included in our new blue Christian Worship Hymnal. These three verses fit very well for an Easter Vigil as they commemorate the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea.
Verse two: Praise we him whose love divine gives his sacred blood for wine, gives his body for the feast— Christ the victim, Christ the priest. Alleluia!
Verse three: Where the paschal blood is poured, death’s dread angel sheathes the sword; Israel’s hosts triumphant go thro’ the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia!
Verse four: Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, paschal victim, paschal bread; with sincerity and love eat we manna from above. Alleluia!
Paschal means Passover. The blood of the paschal lamb was placed on the doorpost of the Israelite homes in Egypt and the angel would “pass over” that house and leave the firstborn unharmed. The firstborn of Israel were saved by the blood of the lamb. The Israelites were then led to the Red Sea, where they passed through the waters unharmed, but all of Egypt’s army was swallowed up and drowned. He then fed them with bread from heaven – manna – for the duration of their journey.
This is not just the story of ancient Israel; it is our story, too. We have been saved from death and judgment by the blood of our Lamb, Jesus, and we have passed through the waters of Holy Baptism and into new life. The Lord’s Supper is our manna from above, as we are fed and nourished in the faith until we reach life everlasting.
Verse five: Mighty Victim from the sky, hell’s fierce pow’rs beneath you lie. You have conquered in the fight, you have brought us life and light. Alleluia!
It seems a dichotomy of terms to call Jesus both “Mighty” and “Victim.” But that’s exactly what Jesus is! He is the Victim who willingly subjected himself to the serpent’s strike, to his Father’s wrath, and to his own obedience of going to a criminal’s cross. The angels in heaven praise Jesus for this dichotomy of being a victorious Victim. They sing: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
Jesus brings light and immortality to light through the Gospel. “It has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10).
Verse six: Now no more can death appall, now no more the grave enthrall; you have opened paradise, and your saints in you shall rise. Alleluia!
Verse seven: Easter triumph, Easter joy! This alone can sin destroy; from sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free, newborn souls in you to be. Alleluia!
Our comfort is that because of Christ’s Easter triumph, death can no more appall, the grave can no longer enthrall, and sin can no longer destroy. These hymn verses refer to Paul’s resurrection words in 1 Corinthians 15. “Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
Verse eight: Father, who the crown shall give, Savior, by whose death we live, Spirit, guide through all our days, Three in One, your name we praise. Alleluia!
The hymn ends the way so many Christian hymns end – with a glorious doxology, praising each person of the Trinity for the resurrection blessings he gives us. What a joy to sing the song of salvation with this glorious hymn!