God the Word addressed the darkness

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Genesis 1:1-5
  • Genesis 1:16
  • Genesis 1:3-5
  • Psalms 33:6
  • Matthew 1:18-25
  • Matthew 16:18
  • Matthew 27:45-46
  • Mark 15:33-34
  • Luke 1:26-38
  • Luke 23:44-46
  • John 1:1-5
  • John 1:14
  • Acts 2:1-4
  • Acts 2:36
  • Acts 2:41-42
  • Acts 24:15
  • Acts 24:21
  • Romans 1:16
  • Romans 1:19-20
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • Galatians 3:13
  • Galatians 4:4-5
  • Ephesians 1:19-23
  • Colossians 1:5
  • Hebrews 1:1-3
  • Hebrews 11:3
  • 2 Peter 3:5
Book Number:
  • 296

God the word addressed the darkness,
calling light to form the day;
speaking stars into existence,
God’s great wisdom on display.
Great the power and great the glory,
of the world’s Creator God,
beauty, life, imagination,
lift our hearts to praise and love.

2. God the Word entered the darkness
of a chosen virgin’s womb;
vastness captured in the smallness,
glory hidden in the gloom.
Great the grace and great the mercy
of the world’s incarnate God,
meek and marvellous condescension
lifts our hearts to praise and love.

3. God the Word was plunged in darkness,
bearing judgement’s heavy rod;
brightness of the Father’s glory
crushed beneath the wrath of God.
Great the power and great the weakness
of the world’s Redeemer God,
awesome conquest, daring triumph,
lift our hearts to praise and love.

4. God the Word outshone the darkness,
taking life to conquer death;
brought the church into existence,
fashioned by the Spirit’s breath.
Great the gospel, great the promise
of the world’s approaching God,
joyful hope of resurrection,
lifts our hearts to praise and love.

© Author/Praise Trust
John Tindall

The Son - His Name and Praise

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Tune

  • Pond Street
    Pond Street
    Metre:
    • 87 87 D
    Composer:
    • Earwaker, John Clifford

The story behind the hymn

Developing the theme of the Word and the darkness to begin each stz, and closing each one with the same line, John Tindall wrote this hymn in 1996 (together with the contrasting 863) at his home at Chessington, Surrey. It was first sung the following year at Chessington Evangelical Church to introduce a series of services on the theme of ‘The Glory of Christ’, from John 1. It is published here for the first time. Lines 5 and 6 also contribute to the firm structure binding the 4 stzs together in a way similar to n0.303, with key words ‘Creator/incarnate/Redeemer/approaching’ setting out the theme of each, while boldly asserting the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ without naming him explicitly. ‘Great the power and great the weakness’, the biblical paradox in 3.5, is an unusual juxtaposition in hymnody; 4.6 echoes We hail the approaching God, a hymn of Charles Coffin’s which Michael Perry has adapted.

Beethoven’s ODE TO JOY (98A) is the author’s clearly preferred tune, but currently in danger of over-use in some circles. John Earwaker’s tune POND STREET is set for the first time to these words. London’s Pond Street is just S of Hampstead Heath, NW3.

A look at the author

Tindall, John

b Manchester 1942. Chadderton Grammar Sch, Lancs (Greater Manchester); ordained to the Methodist ministry, he later transferred to the FIEC. In 1984 he became the minister of Chessington Evangelical Ch, Surrey, and he now (from 2006) lives in Stirchley, Birmingham, with a different but continuing senior pastoral role. His first published hymnwriting is in this book, and.one hymn is also in CH (2004 edn). Nos.296, 863.