In a Sunday School class that I attended, we were told that there are really not very many Advent hymns, but that a lot of them are being written now. I thought that I would like to get into the action, so I sat down and wrote this one based on the poem mentioned above. I entitled the new hymn, "A Kingdom Dawns."
The hymn tune is OLD HUNDRED FOURTH. It was written in 1621 by Thomas Ravenscroft, who wrote music for many psalms as they appeared in the Psalters of the early 17th century. Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote an anthem called "Fantasia on the Old 104th Psalm."
A New Kingdom Dawns
Sung to the tune: OLD HUNDRED FOURTH
Let justice roll down, a great waterfall.
In righteousness, come to flow over all.
The people cry out in their pain and despair.
Our God won't forget them. He calls us to care.
The maiden was told she would bear a king,
The hungry to fill with every good thing.
He will bring the lowly a sparkling new day.
The mighty and rich, he'll send empty away.
He stood midst the crowd and opened the scroll.
Good news for the poor, the sick are made whole.
The deaf ear will open, the blind eye will see.
Oppressed and imprisoned will then be set free.
They called him a king, and crowned him with thorns.
Yet he ruled with love in spite of the scorns.
The King comes to all and in justice will reign;
A new Kingdom birthed out of sorrow and pain.
Oh, children of God awake and arise.
Already the morning star greets the skies.
A new day is dawning, dispelling the night.
We look to his coming; when all becomes bright.
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