Blest Is the Man Forever Blest
Blest is the man forever blest
Blest Is the Man Forever Blest is a hymn text by Cornelius Elven (1860) in C.M. meter. Found in tlh 392. Sung to WINCHESTER OLD.
The hymn expresses the Lutheran doctrine of justification by grace through faith, emphasizing the joy of forgiveness and absolution through Christ. It reflects the comfort of God's mercy in covering sin, central to Lutheran pastoral care and spiritual consolation.
History & Background
Cornelius Elven wrote this hymn in the 19th century as a poetic meditation on Psalm 32. It was published in various English hymnals and became widely used in Lutheran worship tradition.
Hymnal Appearances
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 392
Bulletin Note
Written by English hymnodist Cornelius Elven in 1860, this Common Meter hymn distills Lutheran doctrine of justification into a joyful affirmation of God's grace covering all our sin.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Law-Gospel movement: the burden of sin gives way to the joy of justification, making it a powerful closing song after proclamation of absolution and grace.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
- Confession of Sin Small Catechism — Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Law (fear and dread) to Gospel (glad tidings, peace, and God's grace revealed in Christ's birth)
Overview
Watts's paraphrase of Psalm 32, the psalm Paul cites in Romans 4 for justification without works. Blessed is the one whose guilt is pardoned and sins covered with the Savior's blood (st. 1); to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity — who 'pleads no merit' and 'not on works but grace relies' (st. 2); his heart is guileless, repentance and faith agree (st. 3); how glorious the righteousness that hides all his sins, while the evidence of grace shines in his life (st. 4).
Central theme: The blessedness of non-imputation: sins covered by Christ's blood and a righteousness not one's own
Structure
Four long-meter quatrains following Ps 32:1-2 and Rom 4:6-8. Pardoned (1) — not imputed (2) — repentance and faith (3) — glorious righteousness (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel: guilt pardoned; sins covered; iniquity not imputed; righteousness that hides sin. Repentance and fruits follow (3-4).
Confessional Connections
Ps 32 (TLH's text) — Paul's proof text for imputed righteousness: 'David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works' (Rom 4:6-8). St. 2 is the heart of AC IV and Ap IV: 'Imputes not his iniquities; / He pleads no merit… not on works but grace relies.' St. 4: 'that righteousness / That hides and cancels all his sins' — the alien righteousness of Christ imputed (FC III.4, 17), with good works as 'evidence of grace' that follows (AC VI; FC IV) but does not justify.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Reformation; Lent; Confession; Trinity season.
Historical Notes
From Watts's Psalms of David Imitated (1719), Ps 32, Part 1.
About the Tune
O JESU CHRIST, MEIN'S LEBENS LICHT (Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch, 1676).
Scripture References
Ps 32:1-5 Rom 4:6-8 Rom 4:4-5 Eph 2:8-9 Ps 32:2 John 1:47 Phil 3:9 2 Cor 5:21 Isa 61:10 Matt 7:17-20 Jas 2:18
Stanza by Stanza
Blessed, forever blessed, is the one whose guilt is pardoned by his God, whose sins are confessed with sorrow and covered with his Savior's blood.
'Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered' (Ps 32:1). 'I acknowledged my sin to you' (Ps 32:5).
- Scripture
- Ps 32:1, Ps 32:5, 1 John 1:7
- Imagery & language
- Blest; pardoned; confessed; covered with blood.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — forgiveness.
- Connection to previous
- Covered.
Blessed is the one to whom the Lord does not count his iniquities; he pleads no merit for reward and relies not on works but on grace.
'Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity' (Ps 32:2; Rom 4:8). 'To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness' (Rom 4:5). AC IV.
- Scripture
- Ps 32:2, Rom 4:4-8, Eph 2:8-9
- Imagery & language
- Not imputed; no merit; grace not works.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — non-imputation; sola gratia.
- Connection to previous
- Not imputed.
His heart and lips are free from deceit; his humble joy and holy fear agree with deep repentance and together prove his faith sincere.
'In whose spirit there is no deceit' (Ps 32:2). 'An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!' (John 1:47). Repentance = contrition and faith (AC XII).
- Scripture
- Ps 32:2, John 1:47
- Imagery & language
- Guileless; joy and fear; repentance; faith sincere.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — fruits of faith.
- Connection to previous
- Guileless.
How glorious is that righteousness that hides and cancels all his sins, while the evidence of grace appears and shines brightly through his whole life!
'Not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ' (Phil 3:9). 'He has covered me with the robe of righteousness' (Isa 61:10). Fruit shows the tree (Matt 7:17).
- Scripture
- Phil 3:9, 2 Cor 5:21, Isa 61:10, Matt 7:17-20
- Imagery & language
- Righteousness hides sins; evidence of grace.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — alien righteousness; fruits follow.
- Connection to previous
- Glorious righteousness.
Themes
forgiveness of sins justification by grace confession and absolution peace with God blessedness in Christ