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"Ere Waning Light" by Mike Rathke: A 1700-year Old Prayer for Modern Nights


Mike Rathke - Ere Waning Light

What if the most powerful thing you could do before you go to sleep is to simply ask God to guard you through the night? 

“Ere Waning Light” by Mike Rathke answers this question with a 1,700-year-old hymn by St. Ambrose that reads like a prayer.

Mike discovered this hymn, written somewhere in the 4th century, and set the words to a pop-alternative melody. Going back in history, we know that Ambrose wasn’t an ordinary “churchman”. When the bishop of Milan, an Arian, died in 374, the people demanded that Ambrose become the bishop, but Ambrose wasn’t ordained or even baptized! He was promptly baptized and ordained, and he remained bishop of Milan until his death. He was one of history’s most fearless defenders of orthodox faith — resisting emperors and heresy alike. He knew real danger, inside and out, and how to hand off all of his worries to God.

This context adds extra meaning to the message of the song. “Guard from our foes, without, within — outward danger and inward sin.” Ambrose understood that the greatest threats in life aren’t always standing at our door. Sometimes they live and grow in our own hearts. As the day fades, use the words of this prayer to name these threats honestly and hand them off to God.

Psalm 121:3–4 carries the same message: “He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

God is actively at work while you rest. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through the night or carry tomorrow’s weight into your pillow. Surrender it to God! God’s protection covers everything that you can and can’t see. He knows what threatens you from outside and what stirs from within.

Listen to Mike’s modern-day version of Ere Waning Light” as you end your day. May Ambrose’s prayer also become your own. “O God, our only stay.”

(Related scripture: Psalm 121:3-4; Psalm 91:11; 1 Peter 5:8)

Background:

The song was originally written by St. Ambrose in the 4th century. I came across it a few years ago and wrote a melody for the existing lyrics with a pop-alternative vibe. Thanks for listening :)

Release date: May 22, 2026

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