April 6th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
The Good Friday Chief Service in the Lutheran Service Book is beautiful and evocative. As one goes through the service there are various points where the participant appreciates the turns on the Bible verses in the liturgy. There are three repetitions of three sections: the pastor chants, then a choir or cantor sings, then the congregation sings a verse from LSB 434, “Lamb of God, Pure and Holy.”
My old church used to have the choir sing what is now LSB 456, “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord.” (lyrics and music, check your volume) Musically, 456 was all right, but the focus on “were you there” was a little distracting. Was I there? Yes, my sins were there. No, I was not. 
The original 434, in The Lutheran Hymnal as Hymn 146, repeated the same words for three verses:
Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o’er us:
Have mercy on us, O Jesus! O Jesus!
In LSB, the last line on the last verse is, “Thy peace be with us, O Jesus, O Jesus.” Either way, it is Law and Gospel, focused on what Christ has done for us.
If you get to sing the Chief Service tonight, you are in for a treat. I can’t play it on the piano very well, and it still sounds great. Pity it’s only done once a year!
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April 10th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Except for a couple of half-notes changed to whole-notes, TLH 146 and LSB 434 are identical in melody and text.
April 10th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Susan, good to hear from you, and thanks!
April 13th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Hi Dan!
This truly is a marvelous hymn. It is one that I sing throughout the year, especially when I am feeling down. I usually repeat the last line of stanza 3 several times. It always lifts my spirit.