ELW 867 - In Thee Is Gladness // ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ
ZACHARY'S NOTES:
Stanza 1 // In Christ, we have “gladness” - or more accurately, joy - in the midst of difficulty. Our Lord comes not to remove sadness, but give us blessing in the midst of mourning. This is nothing less than the “gift of heaven” itself, and God’s promise - becuase we know Christ, the “true redeemer” we stand forever - in life and death.
Stanza 2 // Because we know Christ, Christians do not fear powers of this world - “earth, sin, and death.” We face these daily, but Jesus promises we have a reward in heaven beyond all of these troubles. When the hymn says Christ “blesses in worst distresses” we point particularly to the cross, where an instrument of death is made for us the means of forgiveness and new life. It is there Christ changes everything “with a breath” - that is, with a Word! Because of this blessing of forgiveness, we glory in the cross, and join with heaven in “rejoicing forever” at the “triumph” Christ has won.
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