This week’s hymn is “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns.” The text was written by John Brownlie (1859-1925), and the tune comes from the Repository of Sacred Music. Part Second, Harrisburg. 1813.

This third week of advent is called Gaudete in Latin, and it means “Rejoice!”

To me, this week of joy jammed into the middle of Advent feels like an early Christmas present. Like we’re little kids who just can’t wait FOUR WHOLE WEEKS for Christmas! We’ve got to celebrate a little bit early. 

Or perhaps it’s just that we want to skip to the end of the tragic story of the world. What’s gonna happen!? 

This hymn tells us what’s gonna happen, and it’s glorious! We are going to wake up to the most beautiful sunrise we’ve ever seen. Jesus will come like the dawn and be the light of the world. He’ll have no need of our measly little sun. We will wake up from the nightmare of this cursed world to pure joy! 

Rejoice with me:

The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.

Not as of old a little child,
To bear and fight and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun
That lights the morning sky.

Oh, brighter than the rising morn
When Christ, victorious rose
And left the lonesome place of death
Despite the rage of foes.

Oh, brighter than that glorious morn
Shall dawn upon our race
The day when Christ in splendor comes
And we shall see His face.

The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings!

Stay faithful little ones. Our king is coming to rescue us soon!

You can listen to this hymn here