Daily Devotion – November 6, 2020 – Dr. Mark Nygard

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” (ELW 634)

1 All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all.

2 O seed of Israel’s chosen race
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace
and crown him Lord of all.

3 Hail him, you heirs of David’s line,
whom David Lord did call —
the God incarnate, man divine —
and crown him Lord of all.
The God incarnate, man divine —
and crown him Lord of all.

4 Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet
and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet
and crown him Lord of all.

5 Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe
on this terrestrial ball
to him all majesty ascribe
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe
and crown him Lord of all.

6 Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.

Devotion

Theme for this week: Praise for the experience of God’s goodness

Whether I am actually in a worshiping congregation on a Sunday morning (not so common during these pandemic times), or am imagining it as I watch a video service, I sing myself hoarse on this hymn. Absolutely designed for the community of saints of every time and place, it reflects our unity—all of us of one mind as we stand before God. I am there with my Grandpa Flaten, gone now these 52 years. I am there with St. Paul, coming up on 2000 years ago. I am there with the folks from First Lutheran of Minot where I grew up, and with our brothers and sisters in Cameroon where we shared the Good News—voices from all over the world and from every age. And I’m one of them, joining them in praising Jesus. And when we sing together, “Crown him, crown him, crown him Lord of all,” we are hoarse with the joy of it.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for the chorus of hoarse voices, living and dead, who have poured out their hearts to you now and throughout the ages. By your power make us hoarse again in thanks to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Mark Nygard ’09 PhD
Retired, St. Paul, Minnesota