Hymn 38–Since Our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus
In this little series of articles about the new Book of Praise, I am introducing the hymns that are new to it.
As you see below the title of the hymn, this song is based on a number of passages from the Letter to the Hebrews. This book has several themes relating to the eternal supremacy and the temporal humiliation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews proclaims Christ as our great High Priest and the Mediator of God's grace. He who once was on the cross now rules supreme at God's right hand. Because He is also one of us, He identifies with our weaknesses. We can confidently approach God's throne of grace and find help for our needs. Christopher Idle, a British Anglican minister, wrote this song in 1971.
The tune is named ALL SAINTS. Historically, this name has been assigned to a number of tunes. Other hymnals name the tune WEISSE FLAGGEN. However, a number of tunes bear this name as well. And so you see it can be a bit confusing, but we will leave those questions for the historians of music to resolve.
This song is appropriate for Ascension Day or when preaching on Lord's Day 18.
~gvp
Sources: Psalter Hymnal Handbook
