Dear Christ, Let Me Behold You

 

 

A hymn for Trinity 12

(or Transfiguration)

For my brother Christian

7676 D

Tune: O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee? Wie Soll Ich Dich Empfangen?

 

1 Dear Christ, let me behold You

In glory that You give,

And with my heart enfold you

In faith by which I live.

How long, how long, my Savior

Until my eyes will see

The joy that lasts forever,

Which You have promised me? 

 

2 The Law You gave to Moses

Came with a glory bright,

And judgment still imposes

On sinners in Your sight;

My head in shame is bowing

And sorrow whelms within,

Because this light is showing

My every secret sin. 

 

3 Is there a greater glory

Than what still blinds my eyes?

Is there a better story

Than that the sinner dies? 

Dear Jesus, come, revealing

Your gracious face to me,

And end the pain I’m feeling

For my iniquity. 

 

4 A Light that glows more kindly

Than how the Law can shine,

That calls those walking blindly

From flesh that is divine,

Is shining on the straying

With mercy and with grace,

The Father’s heart displaying

In Adam’s newer face. 

 

5 How can it be, I ponder,

That Israel could not see

A lesser light of wonder

Than what Christ shows to me?

The light of condemnation

Must pale before the Day

That shines on me salvation

And takes my sins away. 

 

6 The mountain is unveiling

Our Mediator’s face,

Grace over sin prevailing

In Him who takes our place;

In darkness Jesus suffers

For sin and all its guilt,

And to the Father offers

The blood for sinners spilt. 

 

7 There, there Your glory spying

By faith, until appears

What You will be supplying

When dried are all my tears,

And in the clouds of heaven,

I see Your perfect joy

To all believers given,

Which death cannot destroy.

 

8 Until then, dearest Savior,

Clothe me with all Your light,

And let no trials ever

Remove You from my sight,

That I, in faith and meekness,

Beneath Your cross may live,

Until You change my weakness

To glory You will give. 

            2/9/19