Tuesday, September 29, 2009

the King of angels

Christ, the Lord of Hosts, unshaken
By the devil's seething rage,
Thwarts the plan of Satan's minions;
Wins the strife from age to age;
Conquers sin and death forever;
Slams them in a steely cage.

Michael fought the heav'nly battle
Godly angels by his side;
Warred against the ancient serpent,
Foiled the beast, so full of pride;
Cast him earth-bound with his angels;
Now he prowls, unsatisfied.

Long on earth the battle rages,
Since the serpent's first deceit;
Twisted God's command to Adam,
Made forbidden fruit look sweet.
Then the curse of God was spoken,
"You'll lie crushed beneath His feet!"

Jesus came, the word fulfilling,
Trampled Satan, death defied;
Bore the brunt of our temptation,
On the wretched tree He died.
Yet to life was raised victorious;
By His life our life supplied.

Swift as lightning falls the tyrant
From his heav'nly perch on high;
As the word of Jesus' vic'try
Floods the earth and fills the sky,
Wounded by a wound eternal
Now his judgment has drawn nigh!

Jesus, send Your angel legions
When the foe would us enslave.
Hold us fast when sin assaults us;
Come, then, Lord, your people save.
Overthrow at last the dragon;
Send him to his fiery grave.

(test: Peter Prange, b. 1972 LSB 521)

No comments: