Wake, awake,
for night is flying,
The watchmen on the
heights are crying;
Awake, Jerusalem, at last.
Perhaps my favorite Advent Hymn is “Wake, Awake.” With soaring music from Johann Sebastian Bach, I feel lifted up on high – almost as if I’m one of the “watchmen on the heights.”
This Advent hymn isn’t a cute carol pointing to donkeys and sheep and a baby in a manger. This is a thoroughly apocalyptic hymn. It points not to the first coming of Jesus at Christmas … but to the second coming of Christ at the end of the age.
And Jerusalem is absolutely called to “awake”!
Now, Jerusalem is, of course, the focal point of God’s story … at least in earthly locals. Jerusalem is obviously the home of David and the location of the Temple. But did you know that temple was located on the very spot where God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his own son, Isaac? Indeed, instead of a human death, God provided a sacrificial lamb/ram to take Isaac’s place. That’s the spot!
And at that spot, the Savior of the Nations was born. Bethlehem, indeed, was just a few miles outside the city walls. Furthermore, in the life of Jesus the Messiah, one of the richest prophetic moments occurred when Jesus fulfilled the words of Zechariah and the precise timing of Daniel as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of Hosanna.
Finally, Jesus, forty days after his resurrection, ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives – which is the Jerusalem hill that overlooks the Temple Mount. And prophetically, It is believed that when Christ returns, he will descend upon that exact same spot.
Therefore, our song asks, will Jerusalem be ready when Christ comes again? (“Awake, Jerusalem, at last.”)
And then the next question is … Will you be ready?
The rest of this hymn references all of Jesus’ own prophecies at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. He is the bridegroom. And the bridesmaids and maidens (us) are called to keep our wicks trimmed and our lamps lit. We are called to be ready for the Son of Man will come again like a thief in the night.
Therefore, the song sings …
Midnight hears the welcome voices,
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
“Come forth, you maidens! Night is past.
‘The bridegroom comes! Awake;
Your lamps with gladness take!” Alleluia!
Rise and prepare the feast to share;
Go, meet the bridegroom, who draws near.
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who writes this,
yawning, at the end of a day
… and yet if there’s a
“feast to share,” I’ll be glad
to awaken and draw near
2
Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is singing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
Her dear friend comes down,
all glorious, the strong in grace,
in truth victorious: Her star is ris’n;
her light is come. Now come,
O Blessed One, Lord Jesus,
God’s own Son. Sing hosanna!
Oh, hear the call! Come one, come all,
and follow to the banquet hall.
3
Gloria! Let heav’n adore You!
Let saints and angels sing before You,
With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone.
Gates of pearl, twelve portals gleaming,
Lead us to bliss beyond all dreaming,
With angel choirs around Your throne.
No eye has caught the light,
No ear the thund’ring might of such
glory. There we will go:
what joy we’ll know!
There sweet delight will ever flow.
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