ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The name of Jesus is “blest” in this stanza because of those our Lord makes his saints. Originally, the hymn began “for all thy saints” underscoring what it means to be a saint. It is not the Church’s [or the Pope’s blessing] but Jesus’ own Word given to sinners.

Stanza 2 // Almost immediately, this hymn points out that saints of God live in the world. They are not angelic, perfect creatures, but flesh and blood human beings, who need God’s protection and strength for the “fight” the devil and this world bring. The battle in which saints engage is a battle for our soul - where the blessing Christ bestows breaks the darkness, and is our “one true light.”

Stanza 3 // The blessing saints receive is not something for which we wait in heaven, but given to those who “feebly struggle” in this life. The “glory” with which our heavenly counterparts shine is the same promise we receive - all saints - whether in heaven or on earth - belong to our Lord.

Stanza 4 // When the struggles of this life seem to outweigh the blessing God promises, the true triumph of being a saint of God is in the “distant song” we are given to hear. In the context of this weekend’s passage, it is Jesus’ replanting of the promise in our ear:  “The kingdom of heaven belongs to you!” 

Stanza 5 // When we are named saints of Almighty God, even death cannot take away this great promise. Even in death, we are given the “rest” Christ promises - a “sweet calm” where we hear nothing but our Lord’s promise in His kingdom.

Stanza 6 // Though not something we often speak [or sing] on this festival day, to be God’s saint means we will rise on the last day when Christ - the “King of glory” returns to judge the living and the dead! In this stanza, we sing of a yet “more glorious day” when the strange blessings Christ shares are removed, and we know only the promise of our triumphant King.

Stanza 7 // Here, we sing a picture of the Church - all those blessed and chosen saints in Christ. This is a number no one can count - even the poor, meek, and mourning! Those whom the world sees as useless, God chooses to be his saints forever.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 422 -  For All the Saints - ꜱɪɴᴇ ɴᴏᴍɪɴᴇ
• ELW 422 - For All the Saints - ꜱɪɴᴇ ɴᴏᴍɪɴᴇ
• ELW 426 - Sing with All the Saints in Glory - ᴍɪꜱꜱɪꜱꜱɪᴘᴘɪ
• ELW 427 - For All Your Saints, O Lord - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
• ELW 867 - In Thee Is Gladness - ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ
• ELW 873/874 - Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart - ᴍᴀʀɪᴏɴ
• LBW 174 - For All the Saints - ꜱɪɴᴇ ɴᴏᴍɪɴᴇ
• LBW 176 - For All Your Saints, O Lord - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
• LBW 552 - In Thee Is Gladness - ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ
• LBW 553 - Rejoice, Ye Pilgrim Throng - ᴍᴀʀɪᴏɴ
• LSB 671 - Sing with All the Saints in Glory - ᴍɪꜱꜱɪꜱꜱɪᴘᴘɪ
• LSB 677 - For All the Saints - ꜱɪɴᴇ ɴᴏᴍɪɴᴇ
• LSB 813 - Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart - ᴍᴀʀɪᴏɴ
• LSB 818 - In Thee Is Gladness - ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ
• RH 175 - For All the Saints - ꜱɪɴᴇ ɴᴏᴍɪɴᴇ