How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts
How shall the young secure their hearts
The hymn emphasizes Scripture as the primary means of spiritual formation and moral guidance, reflecting Lutheran confidence in God's Word as the norma normans. It calls believers—especially youth—to daily engagement with Scripture as the safeguard against temptation and the foundation of Christian living.
History & Background
Isaac Watts composed this hymn as a poetic meditation on Psalm 119:9, published in his Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719). It became a standard catechetical hymn in English-speaking Protestant worship, particularly valued in Lutheran hymnals for youth instruction.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 474
- Trinity Hymnal — 167
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 286
Bulletin Note
Written by Isaac Watts in 1719, this Common Meter hymn reflects Protestant confidence in Scripture as the norma normans—the norm that governs all Christian teaching and life. Set to the tune ST. AGNES, it remains a steadfast voice for biblical formation across generations.
Preaching Connection
This hymn declares the Law's power to expose youthful folly and the Gospel's promise that God's Word itself—embodied in Christ—becomes our defense, inviting preachers to explore how Scripture functions as both mirror and medicine in the Christian life.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (conviction of sin and need for God's Word) → Gospel (Christ's redemption and grace) → Sanctification (Word as guide for holy living)
Themes
God's Word as guide Youth and discipleship Sanctification through Scripture Obedience to God's law