For the Spears

We are grieving with you, and longing for Heaven even more today. When I was thinking about you this morning, this Hymn came to mind--it's from Isaiah and referencing Christ's Advent, which, as Pinky said very well, is our only and Greatest Comfort.

Comfort, comfort ye My people
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er the earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

Words: Jo­han­nes G. Olear­i­us, Geist­liche Singe-Kunst (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1671) (Tröst­et, tröst­et meine Lieb­en); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­ther­ine Wink­worth, Chor­ale Book for Eng­land, 1863. Olear­i­us wrote this hymn for St. John the Bap­tist’s Day (June 24).