“Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels” (LSB 491), written by LCMS pastor Jaroslav Vajda (1919-2018), is the Hymn
of the Day for the Ascension of Our Lord (tomorrow, May 21, 2020). This hymn tells
of the account of the earthly eyewitnesses to our Lord’s ascension as found in
Acts 1:9-11. The two angels who appeared were but a small part of the “endless
ranks” of angels who welcomed Christ “ to His heavenly throne,” the invisible
creation of “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Colossians 1:16;
Revelation 12:12).
While on earth, Jesus “vanquished” the power of death and
the power of the devil, and now “looks down upon His faithful” as the shepherd
and guardian of their souls.
As a result of His victorious earthly ministry, stanza two
looks to Jesus as our intercessor and advocate at the right hand of God the
Father.
Stanza three is a prayer for guidance by the Holy Spirit
(John 14:16-18; 16:13) through the Word of God (Matthew 28:20) and for comfort
in our trials until He returns to receive us to Himself (John 14:3).
Stanza four tells of the longing to be in the very presence
of God, where we shall “breathe,” “see,” and “feel” God in new, resurrected bodies.
1 Up
through endless ranks of angels,
Cries of triumph in His ears,
To His heav’nly throne ascending,
Having vanquished all their fears,
Christ looks down upon His faithful,
Leaving them in happy tears.
Cries of triumph in His ears,
To His heav’nly throne ascending,
Having vanquished all their fears,
Christ looks down upon His faithful,
Leaving them in happy tears.
2 Death-destroying,
life-restoring,
Proven equal to our need,
Now for us before the Father
As our brother intercede;
Flesh that for our world was wounded,
Living, for the wounded plead!
Proven equal to our need,
Now for us before the Father
As our brother intercede;
Flesh that for our world was wounded,
Living, for the wounded plead!
3 To
our lives of wanton wand’ring
Send Your Spirit, promised guide;
Through our lives of fear and failure
With Your pow’r and love abide;
Welcome us, as You were welcomed,
To an endless Eastertide.
Send Your Spirit, promised guide;
Through our lives of fear and failure
With Your pow’r and love abide;
Welcome us, as You were welcomed,
To an endless Eastertide.
D 4 Alleluia,
alleluia!
Oh, to breathe the Spirit’s grace!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, to see the Father’s face!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, to feel the Son’s embrace!
Oh, to breathe the Spirit’s grace!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, to see the Father’s face!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, to feel the Son’s embrace!
Text: © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission:
CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000
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