I seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment with hymn words. One of the reasons for this is that I was stuck in bed for a few days with a horrible bug, and it was the kind of task that I could do in between coughing and sneezing a lot.
There seem to be very few hymn settings of the Benedictus, although Ruth Duck has written a very nice one which has made its way into common worship. Anyway here is my attempt which I think goes rather well to the Swedish folk melody "O Store Gud" (which the hymn "how great thou art" is based upon).
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Blest be the Lord, the mighty God of Is-rael
has come to set his chosen people free.
God will raise up for us a mighty saviour;
a King from David’s glorious pedigree.
Blest is our Lord, the God of Is-ra-el.
You set us free, sweet liberty!
Blest is our Lord, the God of Is-ra-el.
You set us free, sweet liberty!
In prophet’s words and in the scrolls of scripture
you promised freedom from our enemies;
you liberate us from our fear and trembling
to pray and praise in justice and in peace. [Refrain]
And you my child, a prophet of the Most High
You go before to help prepare God’s way
To tell the people of God’s great salvation
Forgiven sins, the dawn of a new day.
In tender love, and in Your great compassion,
The dawn from heaven shall break and bring us peace.
You shine in darkness and the graveyard’s shadow.
You guide our feet till every war shall cease.
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If you change the chorus words to...
"Blest is our Lord, the holy God of Is-ra-el.
You set us free, sweet precious liberty!
Blest is our Lord, the holy God of Is-ra-el.
You set us free, sweet precious liberty!"
you can then sing it to Danny Boy.
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