Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord

Rev. Daniel Golden, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, WV, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #352, “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord.” This hymn by Heinrich Held helps us to rejoice in the faithfulness of God to His Word. All creation and all people should praise God for sending Christ as the help and friend of sinners. Jesus is the fulfillment of what the saints of old longed to receive. The promises made to Abraham, Zion, and Jacob have been truly kept in Christ, who is fully God and fully man. He came in peace and gentleness, and so we pray for the same mind to dwell in us now. He must be the One to beat back the attacks of the devil now and keep us in faith so that we will welcome Him joyfully on the Last Day. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as He comes to us now in the means of grace and when He comes again in glory on the Last Day.