ZACHARY'S NOTES:

Stanza 1 // Christ came to earth to make all people part of His Church - His beloved bride - as this hymn [and Scripture] say. Where Jesus’ promise of forgiveness is present, the Church exists, and those who are without a shepherd have the Good Shepherd in Jesus’ promise.

Stanza 2 // When God gives His promise - whether through Christ or those He sends with the good news of the Gospel - those with ears to hear demand to know this promise. The church is “elect from every nation” and “yet one” because it is united in one Lord, one faith, and one birth - the promise of Christ given to sinners.

Stanza 3 // There is no rest in the world, even for those named as part of Christ’s Church. Being drafted as one of Jesus’ apostles did little to help the disciples’ cause - and this is still true today. Whatever “weeping” we suffer in this life, Christ gives us a “song” to sing - that we might know peace and comfort in Chirst, even as we strain to know Him in the struggles of this life.

Stanza 4 // This world does not offer the rest we desire. We long for rest from work, sickness, disease, and death. These are a small slice of the trials and tribulation in which we live. In the midst of these, Jesus promises victorious rest in His promise, that what we long for might be given freely by God’s grace.

Stanza 5 // The rest Christ promises is ours today, for we share the same promise with all who in the past have clamored for the word of the Lord, and now rest from their labors in Jesus Christ. The final cry of this hymn is not unlike the crowds who close in on Christ - “Lord, save us by your grace!”

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 654 - The Church’s One Foundation - AURELIA

ELW 332/611 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - THIRD MODE MELODY // KINGSFOLD

ELW 604 - O Christ, Our Hope - LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN

ELW 607 - Come, Ye Disconsolate - CONSOLATOR

ELW 654 - The Church’s One Foundation - AURELIA

ELW 657 - Rise, O Sun of Righteousness - SONNE DER GERECHTIGKEIT

ELW 764 - Have No Fear, Little Flock - LITTLE FLOCK

ELW 789 - Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - BRADBURY

LBW 300 - O Christ, Our Hope - LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN

LBW 369 - The Church’s One Foundation - AURELIA

LBW 476 - Have No Fear, Little Flock - LITTLE FLOCK

LBW 481 - Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - BRADBURY

LBW 497 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - THIRD MODE MELODY

LSB 553 - O Christ, Our Hope - ICH SINGE DIR

LSB 644 - The Church’s One Foundation - AURELIA

LSB 684 - Come unto Me, Ye Weary - ANTHES

LSB 699 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - SARAH-ELIZABETH

LSB 711 - Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - BRADBURY

LSB 735 - Have No Fear, Little Flock - LITTLE FLOCK

RH 88 - The Church’s One Foundation - AURELIA

RH 185 - Come, Ye Disconsolate - CONSOLATOR

RH 202 - Have No Fear, Little Flock - LITTLE FLOCK

RH 205 - Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - BRADBURY

RH 241 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - THIRD MODE MELODY