Hymn Reflection: The Tree of Life by Stephen Starke
Common Tunes: TREE OF LIFE, WEXFORD CAROL
Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.
Introduction
It should be no surprise that the Lutheran tradition has a strong history of doctrinally-rich hymnody. After all, the Lutheran Reformation is credited with restoring the voice of the congregation in the liturgy, and new hymnody played a susbstantial role in the rapid spread of Reformation doctrine amongst the commoners. Througout the years, the Lutheran tradition has produced a fine lineage of hymn writers who have produced texts that teach the faith well, and sturdy and creative tunes that support robust congregational singing. Unfortunately, these great hymns are often absent from the hymnals of other Protestant traditions.
Stephen Starke, a contemporary Lutheran hymnist and pastor, is one such contributor to this grand tradition. He has written over 175 hymns, many of which are published in the most recent Lutheran hymnals (32 of them are found in the Lutheran Service Book, the hymnal of Starke’s denominational home). Perhaps the main reason Starke’s hymns are so popular is because his approach to writing them demands a good result. He says the following about writing a good hymn:
Theologically, a good hymn from a Lutheran perspective is Christ-centered, biblically grounded, doctrinally precise and rightly distinguishes Law and Gospel. Other linguistic issues also help make a good hymn, issues pertaining to the integrity of the poetry itself: proper rhyme and meter, freshness of expression, easily understood language and imagery while retaining the corporate nature of a hymn text. Musically, a good hymn is one in which the music serves the text and does not overwhelm the text. Luther once wrote that music is the handmaiden of theology, and his words still ring true today. A good hymn tune is one in which the music is churchly in character and singable by a group of people, both melodically and rhythmically, music that is congregational in nature and not soloistic.¹
One such hymn is The Tree of Life, the subject of this blog post. In four stanzas, Starke distills the biblical narrative of sinful human rebellion and the resulting separation of humankind from full communion with God as described in Genesis 3:1–15, its remedy in the Gospel, and the eschatological vision of the tree of life as depicted by John in Revelation 22:1–2.
The Text
Stanza 1
The tree of life with ev’ry good
In Eden’s holy orchard stood,
And of its fruit so pure and sweet
God let the man and woman eat.
Yet in this garden also grew
Another tree, of which they knew;
Its lovely limbs with fruit adorned
Against whose eating God had warned.
Stanza 2
The stillness of that sacred grove
Was broken, as the serpent strove
With tempting voice Eve to beguile
And Adam too by sin defile.
O day of sadness when the breath
Of fear and darkness, doubt and death,
Its awful poison first displayed
Within the world so newly made.
The first two stanzas of the hymn lay the ground work for the problem of sin. Stanza 1 summarizes Genesis 2 as God, having just finished his work of creating the universe and giving life to Adam, plants the Garden of Eden and places Adam in it to work and keep it. Shortly after, he brings Eve into existence to be Adam’s companion. We all know the story well — God gives Adam and Eve permission to eat of any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the result of which would be death.
Stanza 2 moves the narrative forward into Genesis 3 where the serpent first rears its ugly head and convinces Adam and Eve to disobey their creator. God keeps his promise, and death is realized in the mortality of the human race and their separation from full communion with God. Yet, while God kept his promise of judgment, he also offered one of reconciliation.
Stanza 3
What mercy God showed to our race,
A plan of rescue by His grace:
In sending One from woman’s seed,
The One to fill our greatest need —
For on a tree uplifted high
His only Son for sin would die,
Would drink the cup of scorn and dread
To crush the ancient serpent’s head!
Stanza 3 echos the Protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15), the first promise of the Gospel. Here, Starke makes the connection between the seed of the woman and Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on another tree: the cross of shame. On this tree, Jesus would die for the sins of his people, drinking “the cup of scorn and dread,” and one day crush the serpent’s head.
Stanza 4
Now from that tree of Jesus’ shame
Flows life eternal in His name;
For all who trust and will believe,
Salvation’s living fruit receive.
And of this fruit so pure and sweet
The Lord invites the world to eat,
To find within this cross of wood
The tree of life with ev’ry good.
Stanza 4 depicts the reality of God’s promise of reconcilation in the Gospel of Jesus Christ: that whoever believes in him will receive “eternal life in His name” (John 3:16). Through this Gospel, full communion with God is restored, and through the tree of the cross — the tree of life — we feast on the living fruit of salvation as we journey through this pilgrim land.
“It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto You, holy Lord, almighty Father. On the tree of the cross You gave salvation to mankind, that, whence death arose, thence life also might rise again, and that he who by a tree once overcame likewise by a tree might be overcome, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.” — Proper Preface for Passiontide
Use in Corporate Worship
The Tree of Life is pure Gospel and as such is appropriate for use anytime in corporate worship. It would work particularly well as a response to Confession & Absolution or during the reception of the Lord’s Supper. In addition to hymnal versions,² there are several settings for congregation, choir, and instruments,³ as well as choral anthems.⁴
While this hymn is currently only found in Lutheran hymnals, I highly commend it to all traditions for use in their churches.
Footnotes
¹ Kim Plummer Krull, “10 Minutes with . . . Rev. Stephen P. Starke,” The Lutheran Witness, March 6, 2012, https://blogs.lcms.org/2012/10-minutes-with-rev-stephen-p-starke-3-2012/.
² See Lutheran Service Book #561, Christian Worship #754, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #302, Hymnal Supplement 98 #873
³ For example, see the arrangement in the video above by Dale Witte.
⁴ This beautiful version for SA or SATB choir, Organ and Optional C instrument by Walker Williams sets the text to the well-known tune WEXFORD CAROL. Here is another arrangement to this tune for SAB choir, Piano, and Optional Oboe by James Biery. Here is a version for SATB choir and piano by David Von Kampen setting the text to the tune TREE OF LIFE.
