Communion of Saints
Behold, A Host, Arrayed in White
- Words:
- Hans Adolf Brorson, circa 1760. Translation composite.
- Music:
- 'Den Store Hvide Flok' or 'Great White Host' traditional Norwegian, 17th cent.
- Setting:
- Edvard Grieg, 1907.
- Metre:
- 8 8 4 4 6 8 8 4 4 6 8 8 4 4 6
- 1Behold a host, arrayed in white,Like thousand snow clad mountains bright,With palms they stand.Who is this bandBefore the throne of light?Lo, these are they of glorious fameWho from the great affliction cameAnd in the floodof Jesus' bloodAre cleansed from guilt and blame.Now gathered in the holy placeTheir voices they in worship raise,Their anthems swellwhere God doth dwell,Mid angels song of praise.
- 2Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;But now, how glorious they appear!Those martyrs standa priestly band,God's throne forever near.So oft, in troubled days gone by,In anguish they would weep and sigh.At home abovethe God of LoveFor aye their tears shall dry.They now enjoy their Sabbath rest,The paschal banquet of the blest;The Lamb, their Lord,at festal boardHimself is Host and Guest.
- 3Then hail, ye mighty legions, yea,All hail! Now safe and blest for aye,And praise the Lord,who with His WordSustained you on the way.Ye did the joys of earth disdain,Ye toiled and sowed in tears and pain.Farewell, now bringyour sheaves and singSalvation's glad refrain.Swing high your palms, lift up your song,Yea, make it myriad voices strong.Eternallyshall praise to Thee,God, and the Lamb belong.
Scripture
Topics
- Anticipation
- Art and Music
- Blood
- Consecration
- Consolation
- Courage in Affliction
- Discipleship
- Eternal Life
- Fellowship
- God's Children - the Faithful (see also Saints, People of the World)
- Hope
- Light
- Martyrs
- People of the World
- Praise, Father
- Praise, Son
- Presence
- Priest/Priestly Roles
- Promises (see also Gospel)
- Rest
- Sabbath
- Saints (all Faithful)
- Throne (also see God - As King)
- Victory
- Worship
In the hymnals
- The words are in 26 hymnals indexed by Hymnary.org. Their history →
- The tune, Den Store Hvide Flok, is in 38 hymnals. The tune →
Words, music and setting are in the public domain. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project (Brian J. Dumont), which places its own work in the public domain. The piano is the FluidR3 General MIDI sound font (MIT licence). How many hymnals print a hymn, and when it was written, is from Hymnary.org.