ELW 838 - Beautiful Savior // ꜱᴄʜöɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ, ᴊᴇꜱᴜ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Like this weekend’s Gospel reading, the first stanza of this hymn tells us where the beauty of Christ is to be found - Jesus is our Savior - the light of our soul and our joy. We can sing these words only because Jesus Christ is God’s Son in flesh to be crucified and raised for us.

Stanza 2 // The second and third stanzas are a study in contrast. The beauty of creation is God’s work, but not to be seen as greater than Jesus Christ, whose forgiveness and mercy give us cause to sing together as Christians. As Peter looked to the glory of the Transfiguration, so we often look to the splendor of nature - the “meadows, woodlands, flow’rs” made by our Creator - but Christ is better than all. In the midst of sorrow [sometimes brought on by the nature we praise] Jesus gives us reason to sing.

Stanza 3 // As printed, the third stanza reads as though the poet has more to say about creation and its relationship to Christ. While it is not improper to sing Jesus “shines brighter/purer” [than the stars], the original text puts these elements of creation in their proper place and reads this way. “Be ashamed, O sun! Be ashamed, O moon! Be ashamed, all ye stars! Jesus is more splendid, Jesus is purer than all the angels together!”

Stanza 4 // The final stanza generically gives glory and honor to Christ above all things. Originally, the final stanza was much more specific - it was a prayer pointing to Christ in the Sacrament. Pastors, musicians, and congregations would find benefit in knowing the original intent of this hymn, as it reminds those singing why we sing words with such assurance.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 308 - How Morning Star, How Fair and Bright - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
• ELW 315 - How Good, Lord, to Be Here! - ᴘᴏᴛꜱᴅᴀᴍ
• ELW 316 - O Wondrous Image, Vision Fair - ᴅᴇᴏ ɢʀᴀᴄɪᴀꜱ
• ELW 317 - Jesus on the Mountain Peak - ʙᴇᴛʜᴏʟᴅ
• ELW 318 - Alleluia! Song of Gladness - ᴘʀᴀɪꜱᴇ, ᴍʏ ꜱᴏᴜʟ
• ELW 867 - In Thee Is Gladness - ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ