"Behold a Host, Arrayed in White" (LSB 676) is a jubilant and triumphant anthem for the saints. This hymn was one of the 70 hymns written by Danish Lutheran pastor and bishop Hans Adolph Brorson (1694-1764) during the last year of his life.
In the hymn, Brorson translates his reader to a vision of Christians participating in the marriage feast of the Lamb; at the resurrection, their bodies will be changed to conform to Christ's glorious body, and consequently, the hymn possesses both Sacramental and eschatological dimensions as it demonstrates the contrast between life in the Church Militant and the eternal life in the Church Triumphant. From our point of view, this is known as the "now, but not yet."
This host of saints, this "priestly band," consists of martyrs, a term that is used in a wide sense to all believers who suffered in this life because of, and then die in, their Christian faith.
These saints "wept through bitter years" (stanza two) and the great afflictions of this life. Their willingness to toil faithfully and sow God's Word on the "steep and narrow path" (stanza three) of this temporal world caused them much heartache: they were despised and scored by those who rejected Christ and His Church. But they endured to the end.
The hymn tells how the Holy Spirit transforms Christians. Through Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, the Lord's Supper, and the preaching of God's Word, the Holy Spirit sustains them in their journey through this life. These Means of Grace distribute "the flood of Jesus' blood" (stanza one), which cleanses Christians from their guilt and shame and simultaneously grants them the gift of eternal life as their possession in this present world and in the world to come -- "the now, but not yet."
For Christians, heaven is the fulfillment of the Sacramental life they lived on earth. In the bright array of their white Baptismal garments, they appear glorious, like a "thousand snow-clad mountains bright" (stanza one). Now safely home in the endless day of heaven, the blessed saints participate in the eternal "heavenly banquet of the blest" (stanza two).
With its encouraging text full of hope, the hymn reminds Christians of the blessings that await those who die in the Lord.
On a personal note, this is one of my top five favorite hymns. The text and tune always give me joy! The sure and certain hope displayed in this hymn is why this is one of the hymns I would like at my funeral when the Lord calls me to my heavenly home.
In the hymn, Brorson translates his reader to a vision of Christians participating in the marriage feast of the Lamb; at the resurrection, their bodies will be changed to conform to Christ's glorious body, and consequently, the hymn possesses both Sacramental and eschatological dimensions as it demonstrates the contrast between life in the Church Militant and the eternal life in the Church Triumphant. From our point of view, this is known as the "now, but not yet."
This host of saints, this "priestly band," consists of martyrs, a term that is used in a wide sense to all believers who suffered in this life because of, and then die in, their Christian faith.
These saints "wept through bitter years" (stanza two) and the great afflictions of this life. Their willingness to toil faithfully and sow God's Word on the "steep and narrow path" (stanza three) of this temporal world caused them much heartache: they were despised and scored by those who rejected Christ and His Church. But they endured to the end.
The hymn tells how the Holy Spirit transforms Christians. Through Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, the Lord's Supper, and the preaching of God's Word, the Holy Spirit sustains them in their journey through this life. These Means of Grace distribute "the flood of Jesus' blood" (stanza one), which cleanses Christians from their guilt and shame and simultaneously grants them the gift of eternal life as their possession in this present world and in the world to come -- "the now, but not yet."
For Christians, heaven is the fulfillment of the Sacramental life they lived on earth. In the bright array of their white Baptismal garments, they appear glorious, like a "thousand snow-clad mountains bright" (stanza one). Now safely home in the endless day of heaven, the blessed saints participate in the eternal "heavenly banquet of the blest" (stanza two).
With its encouraging text full of hope, the hymn reminds Christians of the blessings that await those who die in the Lord.
On a personal note, this is one of my top five favorite hymns. The text and tune always give me joy! The sure and certain hope displayed in this hymn is why this is one of the hymns I would like at my funeral when the Lord calls me to my heavenly home.
1 Behold a host, arrayed in white,
Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright!
With palms they stand;
Who is this band
Before the throne of light?
These are the saints of glorious fame,
Who from the great affliction came
And in the flood
Of Jesus’ blood
Are cleansed from guilt and shame.
They now serve God both day and night;
They sing their songs in endless light.
Their anthems ring
As they all sing
With angels shining bright.
Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright!
With palms they stand;
Who is this band
Before the throne of light?
These are the saints of glorious fame,
Who from the great affliction came
And in the flood
Of Jesus’ blood
Are cleansed from guilt and shame.
They now serve God both day and night;
They sing their songs in endless light.
Their anthems ring
As they all sing
With angels shining bright.
2 Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;
But now, how glorious they appear!
Those martyrs stand,
A priestly band,
God’s throne forever near.
On earth they wept through bitter years;
Now God has wiped away their tears,
Transformed their strife
To heav’nly life,
And freed them from their fears.
They now enjoy the Sabbath rest,
The heav’nly banquet of the blest;
The Lamb, their Lord,
At festive board
Himself is host and guest.
But now, how glorious they appear!
Those martyrs stand,
A priestly band,
God’s throne forever near.
On earth they wept through bitter years;
Now God has wiped away their tears,
Transformed their strife
To heav’nly life,
And freed them from their fears.
They now enjoy the Sabbath rest,
The heav’nly banquet of the blest;
The Lamb, their Lord,
At festive board
Himself is host and guest.
3 O blessèd saints in bright array
Now safely home in endless day,
Extol the Lord,
Who with His Word
Sustained you on the way.
The steep and narrow path you trod;
You toiled and sowed the Word abroad;
Rejoice and bring
Your fruits and sing
Before the throne of God.
The myriad angels raise their song;
O saints, sing with that happy throng!
Lift up one voice;
Let heav’n rejoice
In our Redeemer’s song!
Now safely home in endless day,
Extol the Lord,
Who with His Word
Sustained you on the way.
The steep and narrow path you trod;
You toiled and sowed the Word abroad;
Rejoice and bring
Your fruits and sing
Before the throne of God.
The myriad angels raise their song;
O saints, sing with that happy throng!
Lift up one voice;
Let heav’n rejoice
In our Redeemer’s song!
Text: Public domain
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