ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // In a stanza that can sound like hyperbole, Jesus reigns “from shore to shore” and at all times because of the picture we are given in this weekend’s text. When Christ gives a promise “before the foundation of the world” His people live in a kingdom of forgiveness and inherit the promise of life with God forever.

Stanza 2 // Because we live under Christ’s reign, God’s people offer “endless prayer and praise” to the name of the One who is our reason for worship.

Stanza 3 // This is a beautiful picture of what it means to have God’s promise given from one generation to the next. Knowing God’s love, we “dwell” on this blessing in “sweet song” and trust God’s promise even to “infants” - whose voices add to the praise of our King.

Stanza 4 // The abundant blessings of Jesus’ reign are given further pictorial language in this stanza. “Prisoners leap to lose their chains” - "the weary find eternal rest” and “all who suffer want are blest.” Not only is this imagery we hear in this weekend’s text, but the result of the promise Jesus gives - those captive to sin are free, eternal rest is given in Christ, and we lack nothing in this life or the next.

Stanza 5 // This weekend's text can leave us wondering where we fit in the story - are we a sheep or a goat? This stanza has an answer! It says “every creature” should offer “peculiar honors” to our King. This can sound like God’s people spend their time [or life] doing some strange things for our King! But here, we seek to bring unique or representative honors to the One who reigns over all things. That which represents our King is the promise only He can give:  “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 434 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ
• ELW 430 - Rejoice, for Christ Is King! - ʟᴀᴜꜱ ʀᴇɢɪꜱ
• ELW 434 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ
• ELW 435 - Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending - ʜᴇʟᴍꜱʟᴇʏ
• ELW 707 - Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ
• ELW 855 - Crown Him with Many Crowns - ᴅɪᴀᴅᴇᴍᴀᴛᴀ
• LBW 27 - Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending - ʜᴇʟᴍꜱʟᴇʏ
• LBW 170 - Crown Him with Many Crowns - ᴅɪᴀᴅᴇᴍᴀᴛᴀ
• LBW 171 - Rejoice, for Christ Is King! - ʟᴀᴜꜱ ʀᴇɢɪꜱ
• LBW 424 - Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ
• LBW 530 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ
• LSB 336 - Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending - ʜᴇʟᴍꜱʟᴇʏ
• LSB 525 - Crown Him with Many Crowns - ᴅɪᴀᴅᴇᴍᴀᴛᴀ
• LBW 832 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ
• LSB 851 - Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ
• RH 22 - Crown Him with Many Crowns - ᴅɪᴀᴅᴇᴍᴀᴛᴀ
• RH 268 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ