14 April 2009

The Before Bed Hymn

Lord Jesus, since You love me,
Now spread Your wings above me
And shield me from alarm.
Though Satan would devour me,
Let angel guards sing o'er me:
This child of God shall meet no harm.
LSB 880:4

9 comments:

J.G.F. said...

Hey, I know that one! (I love listening to it-- and singing along with it!-- on my Concordia, B'ville CD). Bring out the tissues!

George said...

It's a very beautiful hymn but not often sung in our churches because it's an evening hymn. But I was pleased & blessed to use it this past Lent as one of our closing hymns to Lenten Evening Prayer.

Rev. Alan Kornacki, Jr. said...

I had to make my own B'ville CD, JGF--unless you're talking about the alumni concert CD. I converted my old cassettes to CD (and now they're on my iPod).

Nun Ruhen is still my good night hymn. It's one of the best things about my time in Bronxville.

Rev. Alan Kornacki, Jr. said...

George--we sang "Abide With Me" all the time in every church I've been in, both as a member and as a pastor, and it didn't matter that it was an evening hymn.

George said...

Al, for some reason, most people don't associate Abide with Me as an evening hymn, although it certainly is. And I've also used some evening hymns as closing hymns on Sunday morning, but I'm not sure how common that might be among other churches.

A lot of these evening hymns would also work well at funerals too, just as Abide with Me is often used at funerals.

William Weedon said...

Yes, Ralph gave us quite a gift by giving us that song as "ours."

WM Cwirla said...

My mother-in-law's favorite hymn. We sang it at her funeral. It was only then that I realized that this last stanza addresses not God but the children, bidding them to rest securely in Christ. It's a Paul Gerhardt gem.

WM Cwirla said...

"this last stanza "

Excuse me, THE last stanza. You're quoting the 4th stanza. (Time for another cup of coffee.)

Kay M. said...

Can't sing it with that modern translation, though, Pastor! ;-)