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Sign Us with Ashes~ Hymn 433

By: Alan Harvey

Posted: May 13, 2020

Category: Daily Devotional

Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Zechariah 13:9

And I will put this third into the fire, refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them, I will say “They are my people and they will say,” The Lord is our God.”

Sign us with ashes, merciful God, children of dust, as to dust we return. Sign us with ashes, merciful God. Mark us and make us your own. Surely you alone can save us. You pay our price with precious blood. Reaching through your great compassion, you lift up your people with love.

The Glory to God commentator states: “The refrain here recalls the imposition of ashes, a ritual based on Genesis 3:19, which has been a part of Christian worship since the 9th century”. As the Book of Common Worship states: “This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of life.” Zechariah 13:9 is a scriptural reference to the hymn’s words “Mark us and make us your own and lift up your people with love.” This is a great hymn for the worship service for Ash Wednesday.

Prayer

Creator God, we are mindful that we have been made from dust and to dust we will return. We also know that you are all powerful – taking dust and breathing into it your Spirit to make live human beings. Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, we praise and thank you now and forever. Amen.