Night
God Is With Us: A Hymn from Great Compline
““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.””Matthew 1:23
Reflection
Great Compline is the long form of the Church's night prayer. It is served in Great Lent and on the eves of Christmas and Theophany, and its best-known moment is this hymn, sung back and forth between two choirs: “God is with us: understand, you nations.” Its verses come from Isaiah chapters 8 and 9 in the Greek text the Church reads, including the Child whose name the Septuagint gives as “the Messenger of great counsel.” It is a hymn of quiet defiance. Whatever is loud in the world tonight, and whatever is loud in your own heart, the Child born of the Virgin is Emmanuel, God with us. Pray it slowly and let the refrain land each time. Text from Isabel Hapgood's Service Book (1906), lightly modernized; the refrain is written out after every verse, as it is sung.
A prayer
God is with us: understand, you nations, and submit yourselves, for God is with us. Hear, even unto the uttermost ends of the earth: for God is with us. If again you shall rise up in your might, again shall you be overthrown: for God is with us. If any take counsel together, them shall the Lord destroy: for God is with us. And the word which you shall speak shall not abide in you: for God is with us. For we fear not your terror, neither are we troubled: for God is with us. But the Lord our God, he it is to whom we will ascribe holiness, and him will we fear: for God is with us. And if I put my trust in him, he shall be my sanctification: for God is with us. I will set my hope on him, and through him shall I be saved: for God is with us. Lo, I and the children whom God has given me: for God is with us. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: for God is with us. And they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined: for God is with us. For unto us a son is born, unto us a child is given: for God is with us. And the government shall be upon his shoulder: for God is with us. And of his peace there shall be no end: for God is with us. And his Name shall be called in the great Council of the Angels: for God is with us. Wonderful, Counsellor: for God is with us. The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace: for God is with us. The Father of the world to come: for God is with us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: for God is with us. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. For God is with us. God is with us: understand, you nations, and submit yourselves, for God is with us.
Carry this with you
Whatever is weighing on you tonight, say over it: God is with us.