Dec 7, 2023

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Martin Luther said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” I concur. Music is often the quickest way into our hearts.

“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” is a sublime hymn that reaches into my soul. Its reflective melody sung in chant-like fashion draws me into the mystery of the Word made flesh. When I used to sing it from the hymnbook, I was intrigued by its early date, likely the third century. Its opening line draws upon the words of prophet Habakkuk, “God is in his holy temple, let the earth keep silence” (Hab. 2.20). No sooner have we sung these words then we are led to sing, “Ponder nothing earthly minded.” Take a moment with this phrase. Can we take our minds off our puny selves long enough to give God our full homage?

This hymn is sung during the season of Advent for good reason. The first verse references “Christ our God to earth descendeth,” just as the second verse follows suit, “King of kings. yet born of Mary.” Advent derives from the Latin word adventus, which is a word that translates “coming.” We not only celebrate in this hymn Christ’s first coming at Bethlehem, but we anticipate his return to consummate God’s kingdom.

This hymn was included in the fourth century Liturgy of St. James. the oldest liturgy still in use in churches today. Believers sung this hymn as the elements of bread and wine were brought forward in observance of the Lord’s Supper, as expressed in the second verse, “In the body and the blood, he will give to all the faithful, his own self for heavenly food.” The lyrics recall Jesus’ words in John’s gospel, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never go hungry” (John 6.35). The hymn is full of overlapping references to God’s holiness from Isaiah 6 and Revelation 3. What a great hymn to lead us into prayer today:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand,
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day
that the powers of hell would vanish
as the shadows clear away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, Lord most high!”

Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.