O Christ, Our King, Creator, Lord
O Christ, Our King, Creator, Lord
O Christ, our King, Creator, Lord,
Savior of all who trust Thy Word,
To them who seek Thee ever near,
Now to our praises bend Thine ear.
In Thy dear cross a grace is found—
It flows from every streaming wound—
Whose pow’r our inbred sin controls,
Breaks the firm bond, and frees our souls.
Thou didst create the stars of night;
Yet Thou hast veiled in flesh Thy light,
Hast deigned a mortal form to wear,
A mortal’s painful lot to bear.
When Thou didst hang upon the tree,
The quaking earth acknowledged Thee;
When Thou didst there yield up Thy breath,
The world grew dark as shades of death.
Now in the Father’s glory high,
Great Conqueror, nevermore to die,
Us by Thy mighty pow’r defend,
And reign through ages without end.
Translated by Ray Palmer (1808–1887)
“KEEP ON SEEKING, and you will find,” said Jesus (Matthew 7:7). “Seek the Lord while you can find him,” said Isaiah (Isaiah 55:6). And God said through Amos, “Come back to me and live!” (Amos 5:4). The Bible encourages people to look for the Lord, and as this hymn puts it, God is “to them who seek [Him] ever near.”
Gregory the Great was the influential pope who reminded the church of how to sing. Ray Palmer was a schoolteacher, pastor, and hymnal editor who also wrote “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (April 26) and translated “Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts” (November 18). It is helpful to remember that even these great Christians struggled with “inbred sin” and searched for freedom in Christ.
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Isaiah 55:6-7
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