ZACHARY'S NOTES:
Stanza 1 // The first stanza is a call to sing and give voice to the glory of God. God’s glory is in the cross and empty tomb, through which we know God’s victory for us. In thanksgiving [and as St. Paul suggests in 1 Corinthians], we proclaim or “declare” the Lord’s death until he returns in glory.
Stanza 2 // Knowing Christ has victory over sin, death, and the devil, we hear only the voice of Christ - no longer of those who would seek to steal or destroy. When we listen to Christ - our shepherd - we hear only God’s Word. Through body and blood, Christ has something to say: We belong to Christ, our Lord!
Stanza 3 // Whether sung at the conclusion of worship or elsewhere, the good news of Christ’s forgiveness sends us with the Spirit in freedom. “Partners in your new creation” might sound problematic when we’ve heard of Christ as the gate, but the final phrase of the hymn is of help. We pray that we might be “faithful followers.”
SUGGESTIONS:
