What Hope! An Eden Prophesied
What hope! An Eden prophesied
This hymn expounds the prophetic vision of Christ as the Branch from Jesse's roots, emphasizing the future renewal of creation under His peaceful reign. It connects Old Testament messianic expectation with New Testament fulfillment, celebrating the redemptive hope central to Lutheran eschatology.
History & Background
Written by Timothy Dudley-Smith in 1984 as a meditation on Isaiah 11's vision of the messianic peace. First published in Lutheran Service Book (2006) as hymn 342, reflecting contemporary Anglican-Lutheran hymnodic collaboration.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 342
Bulletin Note
Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926), prolific English hymn writer, composed this text in 1984 for the Jerusalem tune, weaving Isaiah's messianic prophecy into the Church's Advent and Christmas hope for universal restoration through Christ.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the movement from Law to Gospel by contrasting creation's present fracture with the prophetic promise of Christ's restorative reign, offering congregational voice to the eschatological hope that answers both judgment and grace.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological anticipation (St. 1-2) → Incarnational paradox (St. 3) → Pneumatological reign (St. 4)
Themes
Messianic hope Peaceable kingdom Restoration of creation Christ's reign Renewal and redemption