The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns

By John Brownlie (1859-1925)

The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.

Not as of old, a little child
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun,
That lights that morning sky

O, brighter than the rising morn,
When Christ, victorious, rose,
And left the lonesome place of death,
Despite the rage of foes;—

O, brighter than that glorious morn,
Shall dawn upon our race,
The day when Christ in splendor comes,
And we shall see His face.

The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light and beauty brings;—
Hail! Christ the Lord; Thy people pray
Come quickly, King of kings.

               This piece of poetry brings together three essential themes of Advent; which on this last day of Advent are especially to be noticed.

               First: The King shall come. The hope of a coming savior is at the heart of the Advent season. The people of Israel waited for thousands of years for that savior to come, and now He has! Christ was born in Bethlehem!

               Second: The King came as a baby, and even in the manger His mission was set. The line speaks poignantly as it marvels at God’s salvation: never has a little child come to bear our sin, to fight on our behalf and to die in our place. But that’s why Jesus was born.

               Third: The King is coming again. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. What glory we shall see when He comes!

Prayer

               Come quickly, King of kings! Amen.