Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
Awake, my heart, with gladness
Awake, My Heart, with Gladness is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by Philip Schaff. Found in elw 378, lbw 129, lsb 467, luyh 166. Sung to FROHLICH SOLL MEIN HERZE SPRINGEN.
The hymn expresses the Lutheran doctrine of justification through Christ's victorious resurrection, declaring Satan's defeat and the believer's freedom from condemnation. It affirms the eschatological hope central to Lutheran soteriology, grounding Christian assurance in Christ's once-for-all triumph.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this hymn in early 17th century Germany as a joyful Easter proclamation of Christ's victory. It was first published in German hymnals and subsequently translated into English by Philip Schaff in the 19th century.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 378
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 129
- Lutheran Service Book — 467
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 166
- Lutheran Worship — 128
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 192
- Voices Together — 270
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by German Lutheran Martin Behm in 1610, this Easter hymn captures the defiant joy of the Reformation's assurance of justification—not earned, but freely given through Christ's once-for-all triumph over sin and Satan.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the movement from Law to Gospel: the Law's accusation (Satan's dominion, death's power) gives way entirely to Gospel proclamation (Christ's victorious resurrection liberating the conscience from condemnation).
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From proclamation of Christ's victory, through affirmation of resurrection life, to universal redemption, concluding with God's embracing grace transforming the believer's response to joyful praise
Overview
Gerhardt's Easter hymn is a personal song of defiance and confidence based on Col 2:15 (Christ triumphed over the powers). It sees the risen Sun (st. 1), the devil's boast turned to defeat (st. 2), unshakable peace (st. 3), hell, sin, and death disarmed (st. 4), the world's rage made harmless (st. 5), the believer clinging to Christ through everything (st. 6-7), and the golden inscription at heaven's gate: those who share his cross share his crown (st. 8). It applies the resurrection to every enemy the believer faces.
Central theme: Christ's resurrection as the believer's victory over the devil, death, sin, the world, and fear
Structure
Morning (1); the foe defeated (2); peace (3); hell, sin, death (4); the world (5); following Christ (6-7); the gate of glory (8).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; enemies named only as defeated.
Confessional Connections
Christ's descent into hell and resurrection as victory (FC IX); union with Christ in death and resurrection (Rom 6, Baptism).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Easter season; funerals; times of trouble.
Historical Notes
Gerhardt (1607-1676) first published it in Crüger's 'Praxis Pietatis Melica' (1647).
About the Tune
AUF, AUF, MEIN HERZ (Johann Crüger, 1648) — lively, dance-like.
Scripture References
Col 2:15 Mal 4:2 Rom 6:4-5 1 Cor 15:54-57 Rom 8:31-39 John 16:33 Heb 6:19-20 2 Tim 2:11-12 Rom 8:17
Stanza by Stanza
The singer tells his heart to wake with joy and see what happened today: after gloom the glorious Sun comes out; Christ lay where our grave must be made when we die.
Self-address ('my heart') in Gerhardt's personal style. Christ is the 'glorious Sun' rising after the darkness of Good Friday (Mal 4:2) — an image matching the Easter dawn (Mark 16:2). The second half is profound: 'My Savior there was laid / Where our bed must be made.' Christ lay in the grave that every human must lie in; because he has been there, the grave is now a 'bed' — a place of sleep, not of final death (1 Thess 4:14; Isa 57:2). The believer's death is sanctified by Christ's burial.
- Scripture
- Mal 4:2, Mark 16:2, Matt 27:59-60, 1 Thess 4:13-14, Isa 57:2, Rom 6:4
- Imagery & language
- Waking heart; sunrise; grave as bed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — resurrection and sanctified death.
- Connection to previous
- Opening call.
The devil shouted in triumph when Christ lay in the tomb, but now he is routed and his boast turned to gloom; Christ is free, victorious, strong to save, and has triumphed over the grave.
The devil's apparent victory on Good Friday becomes his defeat (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14). The reversal theme: the boaster is humiliated. 'He who is strong to save' echoes Isa 63:1 ('mighty to save'). The grave is triumphed over (Hos 13:14; 1 Cor 15:55). Christ's victory is not a narrow escape but a rout.
- Scripture
- Col 2:15, Heb 2:14, Isa 63:1, Hos 13:14, 1 Cor 15:55
- Imagery & language
- Triumph shout; routed army.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christus Victor.
- Connection to previous
- Explains the reason for gladness.
This sight gives joy and peace; nothing can sadden the joy in my heart; no gloom or enemy can take the hope God's Son won for me in love.
Easter creates a joy that circumstances cannot remove (John 16:22, 'no one will take your joy from you'). 'The hope which God's Son / In love for me hath won' — hope is a gift won by Christ (1 Pet 1:3, 'born again to a living hope through the resurrection'). Gerhardt is not denying sadness in life (he lost four children and his wife), but confessing a deeper joy.
- Scripture
- John 16:22, 1 Pet 1:3, Rom 5:1-5, Phil 4:7
- Imagery & language
- Gladdening sight; peace.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — joy and hope.
- Connection to previous
- Personal effect of the victory.
Hell and its prince have lost their power; the singer is safe from evil, laughs at sin, and is not frightened by death, which is now a powerless shape, however it rages.
The enemies of the soul — hell, the devil, sin, death — are disarmed (1 Cor 15:56-57). 'Sin I laugh to scorn' — not because sin is unimportant, but because its condemnation is removed (Rom 8:1). Death is 'a powerless form' — still real, but stripped of its sting (Heb 2:15). Luther spoke similarly of mocking the devil. This is the defiance of faith, possible only in Christ.
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 15:55-57, Rom 8:1, Heb 2:14-15, Rev 1:18
- Imagery & language
- Shorn power; scorn; raging but powerless form.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — enemies disarmed.
- Connection to previous
- Applies the victory to each enemy.
The world rages against the singer, but he disdains its fury; its war is in vain; his heart is free from care, nothing troubles him, misfortune is play, and night is as bright as day.
The world's opposition (John 15:18-19; 16:33, 'In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world'). 'Misfortune now is play' — hardship cannot ultimately harm one who belongs to the risen Christ (Rom 8:28, 35-37). 'Night is bright as day' echoes Ps 139:12. The hyperbole expresses faith's perspective, not denial of suffering.
- Scripture
- John 15:18-19, John 16:33, Rom 8:28, 35-37, Ps 139:12, Ps 27:1
- Imagery & language
- Raging world; play; night as day.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the world overcome.
- Connection to previous
- Adds the world to the list of conquered foes.
The singer will cling to Christ his true Savior, who will never leave him; Christ breaks death's chain, sin, pain, and hell, and the singer follows him through it all.
Union with Christ: where he goes, the believer follows (John 14:3; Rom 6:5). 'My Lord will leave me never' (Heb 13:5). Christ 'rends Death's iron chain… shatters hell's dark thrall' (Acts 2:24; Rev 1:18). 'I follow through it all' — Baptism has joined the believer to Christ's death and resurrection, so his path is ours (Rom 6:3-5).
- Scripture
- John 14:3, Rom 6:3-5, Heb 13:5, Acts 2:24, Rev 1:18
- Imagery & language
- Clinging; iron chain rent.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — union with the risen Christ.
- Connection to previous
- From Christ's victory to the believer's following.
With Christ the singer enters heaven's halls; no trouble can stop him; storms may rage, but his Savior shields him and gives lasting peace, stilling all tumult.
Christ the forerunner has entered heaven for us (Heb 6:19-20); believers enter with him (Eph 2:6, 'seated us with him in the heavenly places'). Storms recall the stilling of the sea (Mark 4:39). 'Abiding peace' (John 14:27). The present tense ('I penetrate') expresses the certainty of faith — already seated with Christ.
- Scripture
- Heb 6:19-20, Eph 2:6, Mark 4:39, John 14:27
- Imagery & language
- Heavenly halls; storms; shield.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — access to heaven.
- Connection to previous
- The goal of following Christ.
Christ leads the singer to the gate of bliss, where an inscription in gold reads: Whoever shared my cross there finds a crown here; whoever died with me there will be glorified here.
The hymn ends at heaven's gate with a golden 'rime' (verse). The inscription condenses 2 Tim 2:11-12 ('If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him') and Rom 8:17 ('provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him'). Theology of the cross: the crown follows the cross. 'Died with Me' refers first to Baptism (Rom 6:3-8) and then to the believer's daily dying to sin and physical death in faith. Not merit, but union with Christ.
- Scripture
- 2 Tim 2:11-12, Rom 8:17, Rom 6:3-8, Rev 2:10, 1 Pet 4:13
- Imagery & language
- Portal; golden inscription; cross and crown.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — glory through union with Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Final destination of the journey.
Themes
Christ's resurrection and victory Joy in Christ Deliverance from sin and death Christian hope