Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#368

368. O Son of God the Father

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1 O Son of God the Father,
in majesty and might,
O brightness of his glory,
eternal Light of Light:
to gloomy haunts of darkness
your rays are streaming down;
the shadows flee before you
the world's true light has come.

2 Yet, Lord, we see but dimly;
O heavenly Light, arise;
dispel the mists that shroud us
and hide you from our eyes.
We long to track the footprints
where you yourself have trod;
we long to see the pathway
that leads to you, our God.

3 O Jesus, shine around us
with radiance of your grace;
O Jesus, turn upon us
the brightness of your face.
We need no star to guide us,
as on our way we press,
if you will light our pathway,
O Sun of Righteousness!

Text Information

• First Line: O Son of God the Father
• Title: O Son of God the Father
• Author: William Walsham How (1871, alt.)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  1 John 1:5-7
• Topic: Epiphany & Ministry of Christ; Light

Tune Information

• Name: THORNBURY
• Composer: Basil Harwood (1898)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: Used by permission of the executors of the late Dr. Basil Harwood.
• Notes: Now Public Domain

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1-3 = 1 John 1:5-7
st. 3 = Mal. 4:2

Written by William W. How (PHH 279), this text was originally called "O One with God the Father." It was published in the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge's Church Hymns (1871), of which How was editor. Because the "One" in the original tide seemed very impersonal, the first line was altered to strengthen the reference to Christ.

The controlling metaphor in this text comes from Jesus' own words, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12; light is an important metaphor for Christ throughout John's gospel). The three stanzas of this text constitute a prayer in which we confess that Jesus is the light (st. 1), that we see "but dimly" (st. 2), and that we need the light of Christ to illumine our way (st. 3).

Liturgical Use:
Epiphany; any service that focuses on the "light of the world" theme.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

See PHH 509 for information on Basil Harwood and THORNBURY. The harmonization there retains the original richer texture for the final line.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook