Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds

The stanzas of "Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds" (LSB 465) are a song of praise among those in heaven and those on earth. 

Stanza one echoes on earth the overwhelming praise of the angels in heaven offered to Christ, who has triumphed (Revelation 5:11; 7:11-12). Stanza two is our rapturous hearts singing of Christ's victory. Stanza three is a prayer in love as we look forward to our own victory through Christ's triumph (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:57), and the living grace-filled loves (Colossians 3:1-12) as long as God gives us life to do so. In the final stanza, the Church joins the hosts of heaven in endless doxology to the Holy Trinity.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

1 Now all the vault of heav’n resounds
In praise of love that still abounds:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear!
Repeat their song of glory here:
“Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2 Eternal is the gift He brings,
Therefore our heart with rapture sings:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Now still He comes to give us life
And by His presence stills all strife.
Christ has triumphed! He is living!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

3 O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love;
Set heart and will on things above
That we conquer through Your triumph;
Grant grace sufficient for life’s day
That by our lives we truly say:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

D4 Adoring praises now we bring
And with the heav’nly blessèd sing:
“Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!”
Be to the Father and our Lord,
To Spirit blest, most holy God,
All the glory, never ending!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: © 1958 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000

Jesus Christ is Risen Today

The stanzas of "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" (LSB 457) alternate between statements about the resurrection and invitations to sing praise to the risen Christ.

Stanzas one and three lay out the history facts of the resurrection and its saving doctrine. We celebrate, in stanza one, the fact that Christ who "suffered to redeem our loss" on the cross has now risen! As a result, Easter is a "triumphant holy day" - triumphant because God "gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). The third stanza reinforces the idea that this suffering, death, and resurrection "procured" our salvation. Risen, He now lives as our heavenly King, where angels surround the throne with eternal song!

Stanzas two and four invite us to offer hymns of praise to Christ through faith in Him and His resurrection. We believers, "Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things!" (Psalm 98:1) The final doxological stanza encourages us to sing a hymn of "praise eternal" to God for His "eternal love." In doing so, we join the hosts of heaven and every living creature throughout the universe in a song of "blessing and honor and glory and might" to the Lamb (Revelation 5:13).

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

1 Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

2 Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heav’nly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

3 But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

D4 Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love; Alleluia!
Praise Him, all ye heav’nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Text: Public domain