Singing your heart to the Lord, during Advent
Song writer Robin Mann has had a profound influence on the way I understand the good news of Jesus Christ. From my first experience of the Lutheran Church in 1978, right up to the present day, I have sung and prayed songs written by Robin. Through his song-writing, he has taught me so much about living by faith in our Lord Jesus.
It was Robin Mann who taught me the heart of Advent with two of his most popular songs. It is not surprising that both of these songs have been included in the Australia Lutheran Hymnal and Supplement.
The first is Robin’s Advent prayer song “Come Lord Jesus Come.”
(Refrain) Come, Lord Jesus, come into this weary world. O, how we long for you to come, Lord, come.
1 Wars have come and wars have gone; come, Lord, come!
Still the cry goes up, ‘How long?’ Come, Lord, come!
Come, Lord Jesus, come into this weary world. O, how we long for you to come, Lord, come.
2 Hearts are breaking; tears fall down; come, Lord, come!
Come and free us, we are bound. Come, Lord, come.
Come, Lord Jesus, come into this weary world. O, how we long for you to come, Lord, come.
3 Darkness grows as night wears on; come, Lord, come!
Will we live to see the dawn? Come, Lord, come!
Come, Lord Jesus, come into this weary world. O, how we long for you to come, Lord, come.
4 Nations rise and nations fall; come, Lord, come!
God is with us through it all. Come, Lord, come!
Come, Lord Jesus, come into this weary world. O, how we long for you to come, Lord, come.
In this song, Robin guides us to give voice to our deepest yearnings to the Lord. “Come into this weary world”. This is the sentiment of our contemporary world in this current “COVID19” context. With the words in this song, Robin also guides Advent praying to hold fast to the promise “God is with us through it all” as we sing those words to one another.
The second song is Robin’s musical paraphrase to the great Advent prophecy from Isaiah 40: 1-5:
(refrain) Comfort, comfort all my people with the comfort of my Word. Speak it tender to my people: All your sins are taken away.
1 Though your tears be rivers running, though your tears be an ocean full, though you cry with the hurt of living: comfort, comfort.
Every valley shall be lifted, every mountain shall be low, every rough place will be smoother: comfort, comfort:
(refrain) Comfort, comfort all my people with the comfort of my Word. Speak it tender to my people: All your sins are taken away.
2 Though your eyes see only darkness, though your eyes can see no light, though your eyes see pain and sorrow: comfort, comfort. Every night will have its morning, every pain will have an end, every burden will be lightened: comfort, comfort:
(refrain) Comfort, comfort all my people with the comfort of my Word. Speak it tender to my people: All your sins are taken away.
In this second Advent song, Robin teaches us to tune into the prophesy that is fulfilled in the birth of Christ the saviour, in the manger of Bethlehem. This birth 2000 years ago is the outworking of God’s plan to show mercy through the forgiveness of sin. With this song, Robin prepares us to look into nativity scenes with eyes of faith and to anticipate hearing God’s word of “comfort”. In another well-loved Christmas carol we summarize this Advent Gospel message with the words, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” (from ‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’)
If you know these two songs of Robin, you might take the opportunity to sing them and pray them during this Advent time. You might share them with someone you know, who needs to hear the word and promise of God.
In Christ,
Paul
