This song is not from the Book of Psalms but I consider it one of the great Christian
psalms nonetheless. This is a very ancient song that has been sung for 18 centuries,
particularly on Saturday Night Vespers (The Service of Light). It is traditionally sung 
when the Christ candle is lit at the beginning of the service.

I include it in this collection for two reasons. First, it frames this collection as a 
specifically Christian psalter. Metrical versions of the psalms are necessarily 
paraphrases of Biblical psalms. Many of these psalms are paraphrased with explicit 
allusions to Jesus Christ or the cross. These allusions are, of course, absent from the 
original psalms. I believe this is completely appropriate for Christians to do and 
emphasize it by including this specifically "Christian Psalm" at the beginning of the 
collection.

The second reason I include it is that it says something about how the psalter is 
located within our spiritual life. The Psalms point to Jesus Christ through the medium 
of poetry. They are artistic. I guess I consider the Gospels "The Life of the World," the 
epistles "The Logos of the World," and the Psalms "The Light of the World."

O GLADSOME LIGHT
Phos Hilaron, 3rd cent., Paraphrase by Robert Seymour Bridges, 1899
Music from Genevan Psalter 1551

O gladsome light, O grace
Of our Creator's face,
The eternal splendor wearing;
Celestial, holy blest,
Our Savior Jesus Christ,
Joyful in Your appearing.

As fades the day's last light,
We see the lamps of night
Our common hymn outpouring;
O God of might unknown,
You, the incarnate Son,
And Spirit blest adoring.

To You of right belongs
All praise of holy songs,
O Son of God, Life-giver;
You, therefore, O Most High,
The world does glorify
And shall exalt forever.