February 8, 2020 (Saturday)
In his first letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul warns the young man that the Christian life is a constant war against evil. He commands Timothy to “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV). A few verses later, Paul describes the one for whose sake we fight: “he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15-16, ESV). In this hymn, we praise God as our King and Ruler, addressing each Person of the Trinity in turn, and end with a request that “His Sovereign majesty may we in glory see.”
COME, THOU ALMIGHTY KING
Words: Anonymous
Music: Italian Hymn
from before 1757
1 Come, thou Almighty King,
help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o’er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2 Come, thou Incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword,
scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid
our sure defense be made,
our souls on thee be stayed;
thy wonders show.
3 Come, Holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art,
now rule in ev’ry heart,
and ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.
4 To the great One in Three
eternal praises be,
hence evermore.
His sov’reign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.