ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The opening words of this hymn are not a directive, but a proclamation of what God does through John the Baptist. As this weekend’s text declares, God sends John to prepare the way that the “King of glory foretold” might be greeted by those who wait for the promised Messiah.

Stanza 2 // This stanza won’t leave us comfortably in the season of Advent. Instead, we hear echoes of the Palm Sunday narrative - “palm branches” and “garments” are laid before the King. The promise of God [to send a Savior] will not fail and overcome all doubt.

Stanza 3 // When the promised One arrives, all preparation comes to an end! We have nothing left to do but “fling the gates wide open” to greet the “promised King!” For all who have a checklist of what makes for proper Christmas preparation, this stanza reminds us Christ comes as King of “all nations” and “all people.”

Stanza 4 // If preparation was completed in John the Baptist and the King has arrived in Jesus Christ, what is left for Christians to do? Stanza four summarizes our task well: “Let your praise be sounding for kindness so abounding.” In other words, sing to the Lord!

Refrain // In addition to the second stanza, this refrain is also a Palm Sunday reference: “Hosanna to the Lord!” We sing these words not only in the context of Palm Sunday, but especially during this time as those who give thanks for the One who is born to save and “fulfills” all promises of God.

Other Suggestions

• ELW 246 - Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - ᴍᴇʀᴛᴏɴ
• ELW 249 - On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry - ᴘᴜᴇʀ ɴᴏʙɪꜱ
• ELW 250 - Blessed Be the God of Israel - ꜰᴏʀᴇꜱᴛ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ
• ELW 255 - There’s a Voice in the Wilderness - ᴀꜱᴄᴇɴꜱɪᴏɴ
• ELW 256 - Comfort, Comfort, Now My People - ꜰʀᴇᴜ ᴅɪᴄʜ ꜱᴇʜʀ
• ELW 552 - Blessed Be the God of Israel - ᴍᴇʀʟᴇ’ꜱ ᴛᴜɴᴇ
• LBW 26 - Prepare the Royal Highway - ʙᴇʀᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴠÄɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀʀᴀɴ
• LBW 29 - Comfort, Comfort, Now My People - ꜰʀᴇᴜ ᴅɪᴄʜ ꜱᴇʜʀ
• LBW 36 - On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry - ᴘᴜᴇʀ ɴᴏʙɪꜱ
• LBW 37 - Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - ꜰʀᴇᴜᴇɴ ᴡɪʀ ᴜɴꜱ ᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ᴇɪɴ
• LSB 343 - Prepare the Royal Highway - ʙᴇʀᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴠÄɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀʀᴀɴ
• LSB 344 - On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry - ᴘᴜᴇʀ ɴᴏʙɪꜱ
• LSB 345 - Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - ᴍᴇʀᴛᴏɴ
• LSB 347 - Comfort, Comfort Ye My People - ꜰʀᴇᴜ ᴅɪᴄʜ ꜱᴇʜʀ
• RH 94 - Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - ᴍᴇʀᴛᴏɴ
• RH 98 - Comfort, Comfort Ye My People - ꜰʀᴇᴜ ᴅɪᴄʜ ꜱᴇʜʀ
• RH 101 - On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry - ᴘᴜᴇʀ ɴᴏʙɪꜱ
• RH 102 - Prepare the Royal Highway - ʙᴇʀᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴠÄɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀʀᴀɴ