SATISFACTION WITH MANNA

SATISFACTION WITH MANNA

O Bread of Life from heaven,
To weary pilgrims given,
O Manna from above:
The souls that hunger feed Thou,
The hearts that seek Thee lead Thou,
With Thy most sweet and tender love.

O Fount of Grace redeeming,
O River ever streaming
From Jesus’ holy side:
Come Thou, Thyself bestowing
On thirsting souls, and flowing
Till all their wants are satisfied.

O Lord, this feast receiving,
Thy Word of Truth believing,
We Thee unseen adore:
Grant, when our race is ended,
That we, to heav’n ascended,
May see Thy glory evermore.

--Author unknown, but You, oh Lord, know, and You will reward!


Manna represents our daily needs that are satisfied by God, but as this beautiful hymn points out, Manna also represents God’s unspeakable Gift to us in sending the Bread of Life—His Son Jesus, to earth. Christians celebrate this event at Christmastime as they remember the events leading up to Christ’s coming, His announcement by the angels, His humble birth and the humble witnesses who saw Him lying in a manger. Notice that Jesus has been given to weary pilgrims, hungry souls and hearts that are seeking Him. Notice too that Jesus is called a Fount of Grace for those who will accept it from Him, an unending River ever streaming from Jesus holy side, remembering that He shed His precious blood to pay for our sins and that He is continually giving Himself to thirsty souls, and continues giving of Himself until all their wants are satisfied in Him. Notice too the response of those who receive this unspeakable Gift—they believe this Truth, they adore the One Who is yet unseen, and they ask to live in heaven with Jesus for evermore. May we all diligently seek Christ Jesus, Who forgives our sins and grants us eternal life with Him. Merry Christmas to all of you!

{Note: I wasn’t able to find this hymn in a current hymnal. It is becoming difficult to find hymnals at all, anymore. I did finally manage to find it in an old Concordia hymnal that credits Heinrich Isaac with the melody in 1490, and F. Melius Christiansen with the arrangement in 1907. I hope you agree that these old hymns are too precious to be lost and forgotten and that a united effort should be made not only to preserve them for the present and future, but to increasingly restore them to common usage.}

Mark Overt Skilbred