Saturday prior to Advent 1

John 1:1; Luke 2:30-32- Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Savior of the Nations Come. (LSB #332). John would remind us that the eternal God, the creator of us all broke into time and space to be our redeemer. This is what the season of Advent is all about. We make ourselves ready to celebrate the fact that God has become human. We celebrate that God has come to visit His people. He came at just the right time and He will usher us home at just the right time. This majestic hymn tells the story of salvation. As you review it think of Christ’s impact on your life, your family, your church and community and then share His story with those you meet.

Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397) is known as the father of Latin hymnody and standardized the form known in modern English hymnody as “Long Meter”—four lines of iambic tetrameter. Ambrose was a staunch opponent of Arianism and crafted hymns during this struggle that were meant for congregational participation and are characterized by their simplicity, austerity, and objectivity. Though many other hymns have been attributed to Ambrose, it is likely that several of these “Ambrosian hymns” were written by anonymous imitators and disciples. Veni, Redemptor genitum (“Savior of the Nations, Come”) is one of a few hymns that is evidentially attributed to Ambrose. Martin Luther, also writing during a period of great adversity, provided a literal translation of this text into German from which many English translations have since been produced. Fred Precht rightly says of the hymn: “In the history of hymnody this hymn is the Advent hymn par excellence.”[1]

There are twenty-eight examples of different poetic devices in his book and admits his list is by no means exhaustive. Here are some that I observed in “Savior of the Nations, Come” (LSB 332):

-Anaphora—Repetition of a word at the start of successive lines.
“Glory to the Father sing,
Glory to the Son, our king,
Glory to the Spirit be
Now and through eternity.” (Stanza 8)
 
-Hypotyposis— A vivid description designed to bring a scene clearly before the eyes.
“From the manger newborn light
Shines in glory through the night.
Darkness there no more resides;
In this light faith now abides.” (Stanza 7)
 

-Oxymoron—Combining for special purposes words which seem to be contradictory.
“God of God, yet fully man” (Stanza 4, 3rd phrase)
 

-Paradox—A statement containing two opposite ideas.
“Here a maid was found with child,
Yet remained a virgin mild.” (Stanza 3, 1st and 2nd phrase)
 

-Simile—Unlike objects are compared in one aspect.
“From the manger newborn light
Shines in glory through the night.” (Stanza 7, 1st and 2nd phrase)

 Other examples of poetic devices that you may be more familiar with are alliteration, metaphor, personification, rhetorical question, etc.

 A helpful tool in Lutheran Service Book is the Scripture reference provided for each hymn. The references provided for LSB 332 are John 1:1, 14 and Luke 2:30-32.[2]

 Collect for the first Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O lord and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen[3] -26 November 2022

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[1] Lovelace, Austin. The Anatomy of Hymnody. Chicago: G.I.A. Publications, Inc., 1965.
[2] https://lutheranreformation.org/worship/savior-nations-come/
[3] Collect for Advent 1, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Advent image copyright ©  Ed Riojas, Higher Things