Paul Gerhardt is commonly known as the hymnist of the Lutheran Church. He lived only a century after Luther, but many of his hymns still live on today in our hymnal. Although Gerhardt was a writer, pastor, and influential theologian, he remains best known for his hymns. Of these, one could argue that the hymn featured in this column is Gerhardt’s most famous works. Like many other great Lutheran Chorales, “Awake my Heart with Gladness” sprung from the partnership of Paul Gerhardt and Johann Crueger. Gerhardt wrote the text, and Crueger the tune. Crueger was the cantor and organist at St. Nicholas church in Berlin.

Crueger’s tune is well suited to Gerhardt’s text. Several of Gerhardt’s stanzas are structured in a similar way. The fi rst four lines of the stanza express an event that happened in the past and that goes on today in a believer’s mind. The last four lines of the stanza explain how God controls events for the good of the elect through his divine providence. Perhaps the best example of this is stanza two: The foe in triumph shouted When Christ lay in the tomb. But lo, he now is routed; His boast is turned to gloom. For Christ again is free; In glorious victory he who is strong to save Has triumphed o’er the grave.

We first see the reactions of the devil to the various events of Easter weekend. Then, we see why the devil had two opposing reactions. After his initial joy at seeing Jesus dead, he realized what this meant for his overall plan, and his “boast turned to gloom.” Crueger’s tune suits this well. Musically, Crueger highlights fi rst the event we see happening with patterns of high notes. Then, as he outlines how God brought these events about, he builds musically, starting low, and moving upward to a glorious climax. This powerful ending reminds the worshiper who ordained the events of Easter weekend, the Almighty God. Indeed, the worshiper is reminded that the Almighty God is guiding everything, even minor events of day to day life. What comfort!

Like all great hymns, “Awake my Heart with Gladness” is based on scripture. The passage Gerhardt was thinking of while writing is Colossians 2:15. “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

The hymn begins by calling the worshiper to this public spectacle, the celebration similar to the victory parades that Roman generals carried out in the streets following a glorious victory. After a win on the battle fi eld, a general with his victorious troops would lead a parade through the streets of the city, carrying the plunder they had captured and leading their chained and defeated enemies. Why is the worshiper called to such a celebration? Jesus has risen! The tomb is empty! We too share in this resurrection, as a comfort now and as a real event when we are raised to eternal life on the last day.

Awake, my heart, with gladness!
See what today is done;
Now , after gloom and sadness,
Comes forth the glorious sun.
My Savior there was laid
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.

The second stanza leads the worshiper to the defeated foe following behind the victorious general. Satan thought he had won, but his defeat became obvious when Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

The foe in triumph shouted
When Christ lay in the tomb.
But lo, he now is routed;
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save
Has triumphed o’er the grave.

This victory parade has a lasting effect on the believers who are watching. No sadness of life, no hardship, no pain, nothing can ever wipe out the joy that Christians feel because of the Easter message. It is a lasting picture that believers can remember when they are down and out. No foe can take it away, no trial can remove it. Our Savior is too powerful. He has defeated death, the enemy we are powerless to stop.

This is a sight that gladdens-
What peace it does impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake,
No foe shall ever take
The hope which God’s own son
In love for me has won.

Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate’er he passes through.
He rends death’s iron chain;
He breaks through sin and pain.
He shatters hell’s dark thrall;
I follow him through all.

This victory parade is what waits for the believer in Heaven. On earth, we fight the battle. With the help that Jesus gives us, we will be victorious and we will join in Jesus’ eternal victory parade into eternity. We share in this victory which Jesus won for us—we share in his cross, and we share in his crown. We will be glorifi ed in heaven, sharing eternity with our Maker and Savior. Jesus’ resurrection is the proof we can always count on.

He brings me to the portal
That leads to bliss untold,
Whereon this rhyme immortal
Is found in script of gold:
“Who there my cross has shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
Who there with me has died
Shall here be glorified.”

Kyle Bitter is a SPaM Junior

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