“Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest— The promise of salvation, The place of peace and rest—We know not, oh, we know not What joys await us there: The radiancy of glory, The bliss beyond compare!” – LSB 672:1

I think we would all agree that this world is deeply flawed by sin. Bernard of Cluny (12th century) was so convinced of this that he was inspired to write a 2,966 line epic poem in dactylic hexameter, which is six poetic units in a pair of lines. Additionally, he used leonine rhyming, which is the first two of three poetic units of a line rhyme. What’s more, he added a tailed rhyme, in which the last poetic units of paired lines rhyme. This incredibly intricate poem was titled De Contemptu Mundi (On Contempt for the World), and was all about the abominable corruption in the church and the world, contrasting those abominations to heaven. He called it satire, but we could just call it complaint literature.

From this epic Latin poem a handful of English translation hymns have come to us. Bernard’s hymn began with the words: “the world is very evil,” and that hymn, slightly adjusted, found its way into LSB The Clouds of Judgment Gather (513). The end of Bernard’s poem focused more on the joys of paradise, and thus we have this hymn, Jerusalem the Golden, before us today. 

The world at Bernard’s time was indeed quite evil. Muslim forces were encroaching upon Christian towns. The second crusade had begun. A papal schism resulted in two popes claiming universal authority over a very corrupt church. Our situation is not identical, I suppose, but it is at least relatable, and similarly very evil. So as we approach the feast of All Saints and the end of the church year, and as such reflect upon the end of this world, we do well to reflect upon the beauty and joy of paradise that awaits us. 

Consider that our Lord promises us a heavenly Jerusalem, a fatherland, with indescribable joys. Within those walls the saints and angels sing around the throne of God, celebrating the feast, clothed in white robes. That country, that home, our home, is awaiting us. “In mercy, Jesus, bring us to that eternal rest.” Think on these things in these drear and latter days.

Godspeed!

Pastor Koopman