The Weekly Encourager - May 18, 2011 - Schlagen

On the 100th anniversary of Gustav Mahler's death, here are the inspiring words to his Symphony No. 2, the Resurrection Symphony, just as relevant today.   My comments follow.

Original German Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n Wirst du, Mein Staub, Nach kurzer Ruh'! Unsterblich Leben! Unsterblich Leben wird der dich rief dir geben! Wieder aufzublüh'n wirst du gesät! Der Herr der Ernte geht und sammelt Garben uns ein, die starben! O glaube, mein Herz, o glaube: Es geht dir nichts verloren! Dein ist, ja dein, was du gesehnt! Dein, was du geliebt, Was du gestritten! O glaube Du wardst nicht umsonst geboren! Hast nicht umsonst gelebt, gelitten! Was entstanden ist Das muß vergehen! Was vergangen, auferstehen! Hör' auf zu beben! Bereite dich zu leben! O Schmerz! Du Alldurchdringer! Dir bin ich entrungen! O Tod! Du Allbezwinger! Nun bist du bezwungen! Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen, In heißem Liebesstreben, Werd'ich entschweben Zum Licht, zu dem kein Aug'gedrungen! Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen Werde ich entschweben. Sterben werd'ich, um zu leben! Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n wirst du, mein Herz, in einem Nu! Was du geschlagen zu Gott wird es dich tragen!

An English Translation Rise again, yes, rise again, Will you My dust, After a brief rest! Immortal life! Immortal life Will He who called you, give you. To bloom again were you sown! The Lord of the harvest goes And gathers in, like sheaves, Us together, who died. O believe, my heart, O believe: Nothing to you is lost! Yours is, yes yours, is what you desired Yours, what you have loved What you have fought for! O believe, You were not born for nothing! Have not for nothing, lived, suffered! What was created Must perish, What perished, rise again! Cease from trembling! Prepare yourself to live! O Pain, You piercer of all things, From you, I have been wrested! O Death, You masterer of all things, Now, are you conquered! With wings which I have won for myself, In love’s fierce striving, I shall soar upwards To the light which no eye has penetrated! Its wing that I won is expanded, and I fly up. Die shall I in order to live. Rise again, yes, rise again, Will you, my heart, in an instant! That for which you suffered, To God will it lead you!

Singing this chorus twice last weekend was intense.  Just before the two back-to-back concerts, an acquaintance was used by the Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin (yea, again), and I saw anew how it detracts and distracts from my witness for Christ.  In this chastened frame of mind I was suitably prepared to enter into the various wistful yet melancholy moods of the first four movements as they were beautifully played by the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.

Finally, in the fifth movement, Mahler gives the answer to the suffering and sorrows of this life: trust in God.  God's sovereign power, will, and tender care makes the journey profitable.  Unfortunately, my German isn't good enough to understand the complete meaning of "schlagen," but to me it always conjures weary soldiers slogging through the mud, on to the next battle, or perhaps back to camp again after a day's fight.  It's hard but absolutely essential work, protecting one's country.  The orchestral parts build to a thrilling climax of shining sound, and then the chorus comes in to finish off anyone who's not crying already. 

When it was time to sing about schlagen leading us homeward to God Himself, I was overcome with emotion and could barely sing the high notes.   For me it was truly a symphony of Resurrection.  The Lord used this music to remind me of His great love for me: the resurrection of Jesus Christ answered all my guilt and shame.  Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n!  I rose again as if newly-washed in the fountain of life, praising God for His tremendous salvation!

Thank the Lord for the marvelous gift of music!

Keep on schlagen; soon you'll be joggin'!
j

Copyright 2011 Janet A. Marney