Tune:
Neues geistreiches Gesangbuch, Halle, 1704
O Durchbrecher
87 87 D
"Hail, O Once Rejected Jesus," Hymn 284 in Lutheran Worship
********************************************************Jesus, when a storm was raging,
Thou didst hear Thy servants cry;
Hear me also, poor and helpless,
Grace in time of need supply!
"Master, save us, lest we perish!"
Was their earnest, anxious plea,
And Thy hand was raised to save them
From the perils of the sea.True, Thou didst rebuke their weakness
And their lack of faith in Thee;
One storm robbed them of their courage
And their former constancy.
Yet the reed must not be broken
Nor the smoking flax put out,
Lest their faith die altogether
And their hope turn into doubt.Roaring winds and stormy weather
Heard Thee saying, "Peace! Be still!"
And at once the angry billows
Were obedient to Thy will.
Winds that threatened now subsided;
Stormy clouds made haste to flee,
Mirroring the peace of heaven
In the calm and quiet sea.Thy disciples bowed before Thee,
Wondering with holy awe,
And their faith in Thee was strengthened
By the things they heard and saw,
Asking, "Who is this that orders
Storm and tempest to subside?
Can He be the Christ who chose us
And has been our constant Guide?"Yes, 'tis He in whom I trusted
Ever since my early youth,
When the Holy Spirit led me
To believe the saving truth-
That the Christ is my Redeemer,
God's dear Son, who died for me,
Lord of lords, who reigns forever
In His royal majesty.To this faith I cling unswerving,
Even in the hour of woe,
Though all things be rent asunder,
Tossed like flotsam to and fro;
Though my sails be torn and tattered
And my masts be swept away,
Thou alone art still my Refuge
And my Help from day to day.Should the stormy waves engulf me
And my course of life be run,
Be it so, dear Lord and Savior,
Let Thy will, not mine, be done.
Only with Thee life has meaning,
With Thee even death is gain,
And with Thee in heav'nly glory
All Thy faithful people reign.
Rev. Paul T. McCain
paul.mccain@lcms.org