Great God What do I See and Hear?
Great God, what do I see and hear?
Great God What do I See and Hear? is a hymn text by Johann Rahbanus Maurus (1850) in L.M. meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW93 208, lw 303, th 322, tlh 604. Sung to LIEBSTER JESU.
This hymn expresses Lutheran eschatological theology, emphasizing Christ's bodily return and the resurrection of all believers as central to Christian hope. It demonstrates the Lutheran balance between divine judgment and redemptive grace in end-times theology.
History & Background
Originally composed in German as 'Großer Gott, was schau' ich da?', this eschatological hymn was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1863. It reflects 19th-century Lutheran emphasis on the Last Things and Christ's anticipated return.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 208
- Lutheran Worship — 303
- Trinity Hymnal — 322
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 604
Translation
Bulletin Note
Attributed to Rabanus Maurus (9th-century), this 1850 hymn combines medieval eschatological theology with Lutheran conviction about bodily resurrection and divine grace. It balances judgment's terror with redemptive comfort.
Preaching Connection
This hymn's vivid imagery of the Last Judgment and Christ's bodily return provides powerful sensory language to drive home the Law's terrifying demand while simultaneously anchoring the Gospel promise of resurrection through Christ's redemptive work.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: from the demand of belief and baptism, through Christ's redemptive work and Spirit-empowered perseverance, to doxological assurance of eternal inheritance
Background Research
Composite. St. 1 first printed in Sheffield in Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (1802), its idea traced to Bartholomäus Ringwaldt's German of 1581 (cf. TLH 611). William B. Collyer added three stanzas in 1812; Thomas Cotterill revised them (1820). Its almost invariable tune, LUTHER'S HYMN (Geistliche Lieder, 1535), is why the text is often wrongly called 'Luther's hymn'. Source: praise.org.uk.
Overview
A Judgment Day hymn sung to Luther's-era melody ES IST GEWISSLICH. Its first stanza goes back to the tradition of Ringwaldt's 'The Day Is Surely Drawing Near' (TLH 611). The Judge appears on clouds, the trumpet sounds and the graves give up their dead: 'Prepare, my soul, to meet Him' (st. 1). The dead in Christ rise first and meet him with joy (st. 2). Unrepentant sinners find their tears useless, because 'The day of grace is past and gone' (st. 3). The prayer at the end: Christ, give me your merit and seal my pardon; beneath your cross I look toward that day (st. 4).
Central theme: The Last Judgment as joy for those in Christ and terror for the unprepared, with preparation found only beneath the cross
Structure
Four seven-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.8.8.7), each ending with a variation on 'prepare… to meet Him.' The Judge appears (1); the dead in Christ (2); the unprepared (3); preparation at the cross (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'His wrath prevailing'; 'The day of grace is past and gone'; 'All unprepared' (3). Gospel: 'With joy their Lord surrounding'; 'To me impart Thy merit; / My pardon seal'; 'Beneath Thy cross' (2, 4).
Confessional Connections
1 Thess 4:16-17 (TLH's text). The hymn holds both outcomes of AC XVII: Christ 'will raise up all the dead; He will give eternal life and everlasting joys to the godly and elect, but He will condemn ungodly men… to endless torment.' St. 3: 'The day of grace is past and gone' (2 Cor 6:2: 'now is the day of salvation'). AC XVII rejects any later chance for repentance after death. St. 4 is the only right preparation: not one's own works but Christ's imputed merit and the Spirit's cleansing (AC IV; Titus 3:5). 'Beneath Thy cross I view the day' means the cross makes the Judgment bearable.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Last Sundays of the Church Year; Advent 1-2; Last Judgment.
Historical Notes
Collyer (1782-1854), Congregational minister at Peckham, published st. 2-4 in his Hymns Partly Collected and Partly Original (1812), building on an anonymous stanza in circulation by 1802. It is often wrongly ascribed to Luther.
About the Tune
ES IST GEWISSLICH AN DER ZEIT (Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg [Klug], 1535). The same tune is used for TLH 611.
Scripture References
1 Thess 4:16-17 Matt 24:30-31 Rev 20:11-13 Amos 4:12 1 Cor 15:52 Rev 22:5 Rev 6:15-17 Heb 12:17 2 Cor 6:2 Matt 25:10-12 Rom 14:9 Phil 3:9 Eph 1:13 Titus 3:5 2 Pet 3:10 Gal 6:14
Stanza by Stanza
Great God, what do I see and hear? The end of created things. The Judge of humankind appears, seated on clouds of glory. The trumpet sounds, and the graves give back the dead they held. Prepare, my soul, to meet him.
'They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory' (Matt 24:30). 'The sea gave up the dead who were in it' (Rev 20:13). 'Prepare to meet your God' (Amos 4:12).
- Scripture
- Matt 24:30-31, Rev 20:11-13, Amos 4:12, 1 Cor 15:52
- Imagery & language
- End of things; Judge on clouds; trumpet; graves restore; prepare.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: the coming Judgment.
- Connection to previous
- The Judge appears.
The dead in Christ will rise first when the last trumpet sounds, caught up to meet him in the skies and gathering joyfully around their Lord. No gloomy fears trouble their souls; his presence sheds eternal day on those prepared to meet him.
'The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive… will be caught up together with them… to meet the Lord in the air' (1 Thess 4:16-17). 'They will need no light… for the Lord God will be their light' (Rev 22:5).
- Scripture
- 1 Thess 4:16-17, Rev 22:5, 1 John 4:17-18
- Imagery & language
- Dead in Christ arise; caught up; joy; eternal day.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: resurrection to joy.
- Connection to previous
- The dead in Christ.
But sinners, full of guilty fear, see his wrath prevail, for they will rise and find their tears and sighs useless; the day of grace is past and gone, and they stand trembling before his throne, completely unprepared to meet him.
'Hide us… from the wrath of the Lamb' (Rev 6:16). 'He found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears' (Heb 12:17). 'The door was shut' (Matt 25:10). 'Now is the day of salvation' (2 Cor 6:2). AC XVII.
- Scripture
- Rev 6:15-17, Heb 12:17, Matt 25:10-12, 2 Cor 6:2
- Imagery & language
- Guilty fears; wrath; unavailing tears; day of grace past; unprepared.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: judgment of the impenitent.
- Connection to previous
- Unprepared.
Christ, who died and yet lives, give me your merit; seal my pardon, forgive my sins and cleanse me by your Spirit. Beneath your cross I look at the day when heaven and earth will pass away, and so I prepare to meet you.
'Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living' (Rom 14:9). 'Not having a righteousness of my own' (Phil 3:9). 'Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit' (Eph 1:13). 'Far be it from me to boast except in the cross' (Gal 6:14).
- Scripture
- Rom 14:9, Phil 3:9, Eph 1:13, Titus 3:5, 2 Pet 3:10, Gal 6:14
- Imagery & language
- Died and lives; merit imparted; pardon sealed; Spirit cleanses; beneath the cross.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: Christ's merit as the only preparation.
- Connection to previous
- Beneath Thy cross.
Themes
Last Judgment Christ's Return Eschatology Divine majesty Resurrection