ELW 867 - In Thee Is Gladness // ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // In Christ, we have “gladness” - or more accurately, joy - in the midst of difficulty. Our Lord comes not to remove sadness, but give us blessing in the midst of mourning. This is nothing less than the “gift of heaven” itself, and God’s promise - becuase we know Christ, the “true redeemer” we stand forever - in life and death.

Stanza 2 // Because we know Christ, Christians do not fear powers of this world - “earth, sin, and death.” We face these daily, but Jesus promises we have a reward in heaven beyond all of these troubles. When the hymn says Christ “blesses in worst distresses” we point particularly to the cross, where an instrument of death is made for us the means of forgiveness and new life. It is there Christ changes everything “with a breath” - that is, with a Word! Because of this blessing of forgiveness, we glory in the cross, and join with heaven in “rejoicing forever” at the “triumph” Christ has won. 

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• LBW 17 - How Blest Are Those Who Know Their Need of God
• ELW 428 - Give Thanks for Saints - ʀᴇᴘᴛᴏɴ
• ELW 607 - Come, Ye Disconsolate - ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛᴏʀELW 637 - Holy God, Holy and Glorious - ɴᴇʟꜱᴏɴ
• ELW 728 - Blest Are They - ʙʟᴇꜱᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ
• ELW 754 - Jesus, the Very Thought of You - ꜱᴛ. ᴀɢɴᴇꜱELW 786 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
• ELW 840 - Now Thank We All Our God - ɴᴜɴ ᴅᴀɴᴋᴇᴛ ᴀʟʟᴇ ɢᴏᴛᴛ
• ELW 873 - Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! - ᴍᴀʀɪᴏɴ
• ELW 884 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow - ᴏʟᴅ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅᴛʜ