Wake, Awake For Night Is Flying

 

 

 Wake, awake, for night is flying,
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
Awake, Jerusalem, at last!
Midnight hears the welcome voices,
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
Come forth, ye virgins, night is past!
The Bridegroom comes, awake,
Your lamps with gladness take;
Hallelujah!
And for His marriage-feast prepare,
For ye must go to meet Him there.

 

 Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing,
She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious,
Her Star is risen, her Light is come!
Ah come, Thou blessed Lord,
O Jesus, Son of God,
Hallelujah!
We follow till the halls we see
Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee!

 Now let all the heavens adore Thee,
And men and angels sing before Thee,
With harp and cymbal's clearest tone;
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where we are with the choir immortal
Of angels round Thy dazzling throne;
Nor eye hath seen, nor ear
Hath yet attain'd to hear
What there is ours,
But we rejoice, and sing to Thee
Our hymn of joy eternally.

 

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When I learned of the title for the Harper Lee book to be released this summer, I also thought it reminded me of a hymn.  I thought of it!  It is "Awake, Awake, For Night Is Flying".  A lovely hymn, I think it sounds best on the organ.

 

 It was written in the late 1500's by a Lutheran pastor by the name of  Phillip Nicolai in Germany.  This was during the time of the plague and in his small village, 1300 died.  He wrote a book of meditations (The Mirror of Joy) to comfort his parishioners and added this hymn to it.

Although he wrote both the words and music, the arrangement and harmony is by J. S. Bach,  and by his association with it, brought attention to the song.