Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark. Aaberg Jens Christian

offers to thee with the bread

      His body riven for thy aid,

      And with the wine His precious blood,

      The price of thy eternal good.

      How this can be, I cannot tell;

      He did not on the mystery dwell;

      No mind the secret can perceive,

      It is enough that I believe.

      Rejoice, then, O my soul today

      That God’s appointed servant may

      Now offer thee the gift so free

      Through which thy Lord unites with thee.

      O Lord, I offer Thee my soul

      To nourish, strengthen and make whole.

      Uphold me by Thy means of grace

      Until I see Thee face to face.

      The short hymn given below is a favorite after the communion in numerous Danish and Norwegian churches.

      O dearest Lord, receive from me

      The heartfelt thanks I offer Thee,

      Who through Thy body and Thy blood

      Hast wrought my soul’s eternal good.

      Break forth, my soul, in joy and praise;

      What wealth is mine this day of days!

      My Jesus dwells within my soul;

      Let every tongue His grace extol.

      Kingo’s historical hymns, that is, his hymns on the stories of the Gospels, usually are not counted among the best. Yet there are many fine hymns among them, such as the annunciation hymn, “There Came a Message from the Sky”; the hymn about the wedding at Cana, “How Blessed Was that Wedding Feast”; and the splendid hymn on the transfiguration of the Lord, “I Lift My Eyes and Spirit Up unto the Hallowed Mountain Top Where Jesus Once Ascended”. Best known among this group of hymns is, however, his great sequence of songs on our Lord’s passion. In these inspired hymns we meet again the Kingo that we know from his spiritual songs, fiery, eloquent, imaginative, seeking to picture every detail and mood of the Savior’s suffering from the garden to the cross. Though it is difficult to choose among hymns so universally fine, the one given below is, at least, fairly representative of the group.

      Over Kedron Jesus passes

      Ready for His passion day,

      While the Prince of Darkness masses

      All his legions for the fray.

      Wily foes with evil hearts

      Bend their bows and point their darts,

      Aiming at the Savior solely,

      As the world forsakes Him wholly.

      David once in great affliction

      Crossed the Kedron’s narrow stream,

      While his foes without restriction

      Hatched their vile and cunning scheme.

      Darker far the shadows now

      Bend about the Savior’s brow

      As He hastens to His passion

      For the sinful world’s salvation.

      See Him, torn by woe appalling,

      Kneeling in the garden still,

      And upon His Father calling

      That, if possible, He will

      Take the bitter cup away.

      But how meekly He doth pray!

      What the Father shall Him offer,

      fn_1

      Other translations:

      “O day full of grace, which we behold” by C. Doving in “Hymnal for Church and Home.”

      “The dawn from on high is on our shore” by S. D. Rodholm in “World of Song”.

      fn_2

      Another translation:

      “Ever is a peril near me” by C. Doving in “Hymnal for Church and Home”.

      fn_3

      Another translation: “He that believes and is baptized” by G. T. Rygh in “Hymnal for Church and Home”.