Many years ago, I attended an afternoon organ concert at the Lutheran church in my neighborhood. It was home to the school I attended for seven years, two blocks from where I had moved back as an adult. I loved the people there very much and wanted to hear their brand new organ at the dedication concert.
The church was packed, even the balconies were full to the limit. I don't remember the organ repertoire on the program that afternoon, even though there was a gifted organist playing. I only remember the hymn at the end. Everyone rose to their feet, and the organ led all of us in this thunderous hymn of praise:
From all that dwell below the skies
Let the creator's praise arise;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let the redeemer's name be sung
Through ev'ry land, by ev'ry tongue.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Eternal are your mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends your Word:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your praise shall sound from shore to shore
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
All praise to God the Father be, All praise, eternal Son, to thee; Alleluia, alleluia! Whom with the Spirit we adore Forever and forevermore: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
As the last Alleluia! died away, the western sun came out from behind a cloud, and lit up the gorgeous stained glass window over the chancel. It was a depiction of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. To this day, I remember the beauty of that moment.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us...Psalm 90:16-17
A lady named Ruby came up to me afterwards. She was the mother of a good friend from school. "That last hymn, wasn't it beautiful?" she said, and her eyes were shining with tears of joy.
Ruby went home to heaven in that same church one Sunday morning, years later. She simply went home to her Savior in the place she so loved to be, in worship of our LORD. I will always remember the singing that day, the organ with its commanding leadership, the western sun, lighting up the church, and dear Ruby, with her shining eyes. It was one brief moment when the things of earth grew strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus, out of every nation,
Has redeemed us by his blood.
