Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old,The Lord of all in spirit did behold
High on a lofty throne, in splendor bright,
With robes that filled the temple courts with light.
Above the throne were flaming seraphim;
Six wings had they, these messengers of Him.
With two they veiled their faces as was right,
With two they humbly hid their feet from sight,
And with the other two aloft they soared;
One to the other called and praised the Lord:
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
His glory fills the heavens and the earth.
The beams and lintels trembled at the cry,
And clouds of smoke enwrapped the throne on high.
(Sanctus for Divine Service 5, LSB 960)
OK, I have an awesome hymn setting of this, too (translated a little differently...)
ReplyDeleteA favorite ...
We sang it just this past Sunday. In our hymnbook it's Rite IV, "Lutheran Chorale Service." We use it about 10 times a year on average. My 6- and 8-year-old know it and sing it, just from our using it in the Divine Service.
ReplyDeletePastor Jerry Gernander
-C,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is such a majestic text. Have you perchance heard the setting from the Praetorius Christmas Mass? I think it is my all time favorite.
Pr. Gernander,
Oh, how blessed your children to have this already stuffed solidly into their little heads. I was singing it today to myself on a bike ride - we've begun using it more often as a distribution hymn so that when we celebrate the LSB Setting 5, the folks will recognize and sing it out.
Will,
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes I've used it that way in the Chorale Service, as a distribution hymn, since Luther did have it after the verba. And for us, everyone by now knows it well enough that it works well during distribution too even with fewer people singing.
My favorite version was off an old cassette tape I had of Reformation Era Chorales. The "Heilig" part that the angels sing was sung markedly slower, and it was done 9 times! And after the third and after the sixth there was a key change upward. Just beautiful! I've got to find that tape.
Pastor Jerry Gernander
Pastor Gernander,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome!
Isaiah Mighty Seer was just about my father's favorite hymn (one of mine, too). My 4 brothers and 2 sisters sang it together at my father's 40th anniversary as a pastor back in 1980. It's always awesome, though not as well-known as it should be.
ReplyDeletePeace,
+ Herb Mueller
Herb,
ReplyDeleteMay your father's memory be eternal! He now sings that song with the Seraphim endlessly! Glory to Christ, our God!