Great Is the Lord Our God

Great Is the Lord Our God is a hymn text by Unknown (1800) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Found in ph87 48, tlh 636.

This hymn emphasizes the transcendent greatness and majesty of God, central to Lutheran worship's affirmation of God's sovereign glory. It expresses the creature's proper response of awe and reverence before the Holy One, reflecting Lutheran emphasis on both divine transcendence and accessibility through Christ.

History & Background

This hymn text appears in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) as hymn 636, sourced from English hymnody traditions. The author attribution is unknown, suggesting it may be from earlier German or English collections.

Traditionally associated with the Levitical “Sons of Korah,” this Scripture References celebration song matches the exuberant faith of Psalm 46 (see st. 1 = w. 1-2 also 76,84,87,122,125, and 137). In the post-exilic liturgy of st. 2 = w. 3-8 the temple, this psalm was sung at the time of the morning st. 3 = w. 9-10 sacrifice on the second day of the week. Because the LORD st. 4 = w. ll-13a Almighty is present in Zion, that hill’s rather modest height is st. 5 = w. 13-14 likened to Mount Zaphon (North Mountain), the Mount Olympus where the Canaanite gods supposedly sat in counsel. Jerusalem, unlike the imperial capitals of Egypt and Mesopotamia, was no grand city. But her walls and citadels are impregnable because “the Great King” lives there. And in Jerusalem’s temple “we meditate on [God’s] unfailing love” (v. 9). In this psalm we proclaim the greatness of the LORD and the glory of his city (st. 1), extol God’s triumphs over Zion’s enemies and his people’s sense of security (st. 2), and praise the Lord’s love, grace, and righteousness (st. 3). Zion rejoices in its King and in the ramparts God maintains (st. 4). The psalmist exhorts the people to let succeeding generations know Zion will not fail—for God, the unfailing guide, is present there [by his Word and Spirit] (st. 5). Emily R. Brink versified stanza 1, and Bert Witvoet versified stanza 2; stanzas 3 through 5 (with some alterations) are from The Book ofPsalms (1871), a textonly psalter that was later published with music in 1887.

Hymnal Appearances

• Psalter Hymnal — 48
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 636

Liturgical Use

Beginning of worship; various points in festive services (including church anniver­ saries) , since the New Testament temple is the whole people of God.

Bulletin Note

This 19th-century hymn employs the majestic German tune Gott ist gegenwärtig, joining the Lutheran tradition of singing God's transcendent glory while experiencing His intimate presence in worship.

Preaching Connection

This hymn establishes the Law's proper work—revealing God's holiness and our smallness—creating the necessary emptiness into which Gospel mercy flows.

Overview

Isaac Watts' paraphrase of Psalm 48 from The Psalms of David Imitated, applied to the Church. Great is the Lord, who makes his churches his chosen home (st. 1). These temples of grace stand as the glory and bulwarks of the land (st. 2). In Zion God is known as Refuge, and his salvation shines (st. 3). Our fathers told, and we have seen, how God guards his flock (st. 4). In every new distress we will go to his house and seek deliverance there (st. 5).

Central theme: God's faithful presence in his Church as refuge and salvation from generation to generation

Structure

Five short-meter quatrains. God's praise and dwelling (1); the churches' beauty (2); refuge and salvation (3); remembered faithfulness (4); resolve to seek him (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law implied: 'distress' (3, 5). Gospel: 'temples of His grace'; 'A Refuge'; 'His salvation… His heavenly grace'; 'secures the fold' (2-4).

Confessional Connections

Ps 48:1-8 (TLH's text): 'Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God.' Watts 'imitates' the psalm in New Testament terms by applying Zion to the Church. St. 1: God makes his churches 'His most delightful seat' because there he is present in Word and Sacrament (AC VII; Matt 18:20). St. 2 calls churches 'bulwarks of our land', which fits the Lutheran view that the Gospel's presence blesses the civil order too, though the two kingdoms remain distinct (AC XVI, XXVIII). St. 4: 'Oft have our fathers told' (Ps 44:1; 78:3-4) is the Church's memory of God's faithfulness. St. 5: 'In every new distress / We'll to His house repair' (Ps 50:15), where God has promised to be found.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Church dedication; anniversary; Reformation; general praise.

Historical Notes

Watts (1674-1748) published his version of Ps 48 in The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719). TLH uses a cento.

About the Tune

SCHUMANN (Cantica Laudis, Boston, 1850).

Scripture References

Ps 48:1-8 Ps 48:12-14 Ps 132:13-14 Ps 87:2 Ps 46:1 Ps 76:1 Ps 44:1 Ps 78:3-4 John 10:27-29 Ps 50:15 Ps 27:4-5

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

God's greatness Divine majesty Worship and praise God's dwelling place

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Great Is the Lord Our God" ↗