I Will Sing My Maker's Praises
I will sing my Maker's praises
I Will Sing My Maker's Praises is a hymn text by Johann Balthasar König (1738) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in lsb 977, lw 439, tlh 25. Sung to LOBE DEN HERREN.
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran piety's emphasis on grateful praise as the Christian's response to God's merciful providence and sustaining care. It reflects the Reformation principle of the priesthood of all believers, calling the individual soul to personal, joyful worship.
History & Background
Originally written in German as 'Lobe den Herren' by Johann Balthasar König and published in his hymnal Freylinghausen's Geistreiches Gesangbuch (1738). Catherine Winkworth translated this beloved hymn into English in 1863, preserving its joyful ascription of praise.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 977
- Lutheran Worship — 439
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 25
Translation
Bulletin Note
Johann Balthasar König (1738). This hymn expresses the heart of Lutheran piety: personal, grateful praise as the believer's response to God's provident mercy and sustaining care across all seasons of life.
Preaching Connection
This hymn beautifully embodies the Gospel's call to joyful gratitude: having received undeserved grace, the believer's only fitting response is praise that overflows into all of life.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (divine majesty and power) → Gospel (providence, mercy, sustenance) → Gospel (daily goodness) → Gospel (communal adoration and response)
Background Research
Gerhardt, 'Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen'. From memory: first printed in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica (1653), which fits the index; TLH's 1659 is a later edition. Ten 12-line stanzas, each ending with the refrain 'Alles Ding währt seine Zeit, / Gottes Lieb in Ewigkeit' ('All things last their time; God's love forever'). Julian calls it 'one of Gerhardt's finest hymns': thanksgiving for God's love in creation, redemption and sanctification (a Trinitarian, Creed-like progression, ideal for stanza analysis) and for his care in trouble and the cross. Julian, citing Lauxmann, tells how Pastor Karl Helfferich ended a ministers' dinner-conference that had descended into complaints about petty matters by singing the last stanza. Tunes: Schop's SOLLT ICH MEINEM GOTT / CANTATE DOMINO (1641). English: Massie's 'I will sing my Maker's praises' (1864, Mercer's Church Psalter) underlies TLH's composite; Winkworth's 'Shall I not sing praise to Thee' (1855).
Sources: hymnary.org 'Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen' (citing Julian).
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 19 (2×)
- Trinity 3 (2×)
- Trinity 17 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A cento from one of Paul Gerhardt's great hymns of praise ('Should I not sing to my God?'). Every stanza (except the last) ends with the refrain 'All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye.' It sees traces of God's love in all things (st. 1); above all in the gift of his Son to redeem me from hell (st. 2); in provision for soul and body (st. 3); in protection by night and blessing by morning (st. 4); in fatherly patience with a wayward child (st. 5); and so comes boldly to the Father, asking grace to love, trust and obey (st. 6).
Central theme: God's unchanging love seen in creation, redemption, provision, protection and fatherly forgiveness
Structure
Six ten-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.7.7.7.7.7.7) with the refrain 'All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye.' Love in all things (1) — the Son given (2) — provision (3) — protection (4) — forgiveness (5) — response (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout. Law: 'quenchless flames of hell' (2); 'my many sins and errors' (5); the rod of fatherly chastening (5).
Confessional Connections
A hymn on the First and Second Articles. SC First Article: God 'richly and daily provides… defends me against all danger… all this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy' (st. 3-4). John 3:16; Rom 8:32 (st. 2). Fatherly chastening distinguished from wrath (st. 5; Ap XII.151-158). 'Since, then, neither change nor coldness in my Father's love can be' (st. 6) — assurance grounded in God's unchanging love (FC XI). 'Love and trust Thee and obey Thee' — the First Commandment's 'fear, love, and trust in God above all things' as fruit of faith.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Thanksgiving; general praise; Trinity season.
Historical Notes
Gerhardt's hymn first appeared in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica (1653); TLH dates its form 1659. Johann Schop's tune (1641) predates it.
About the Tune
SOLLT ICH MEINEM GOTT (Johann Schop, 1641).
Scripture References
Eph 5:19-20 Ps 103:1-5 Rom 1:20 Ps 136 John 3:16 Rom 8:32 Rom 11:33 Eph 3:18-19 Matt 6:25-33 2 Cor 12:9 Ps 121:3-8 Lam 3:22-23 Luke 15:11-24 Ps 103:8-14 Heb 12:5-11 Mal 3:6 Heb 4:16 Deut 6:5
Stanza by Stanza
I will sing my Maker's praises and rejoice in him, for in all things I see traces of his tender love for me. Only love could move him to raise and carry with such care all who try to serve and love him. Everything else lasts only its day; God's great love lasts forever.
Eph 5:19-20 (TLH's text): 'giving thanks always and for everything.' Creation shows God's goodness (Rom 1:20; Ps 104). The refrain contrasts transience with God's eternal love (Isa 40:8; Ps 136).
- Scripture
- Eph 5:19-20, Ps 103:1-5, Rom 1:20, Isa 40:8, Ps 136:1
- Imagery & language
- Traces of love; refrain.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's love in all things.
- Connection to previous
- Love in all things.
He valued me so dearly that he gave his beloved Son to redeem me from the unquenchable flames of hell. Spring of boundless blessing, how could my weak mind ever find the bottom of your depth, even with unceasing effort? Everything else lasts only its day; God's great love lasts forever.
John 3:16; Rom 8:32: 'He who did not spare his own Son…' 'Quenchless flames' (Mark 9:43) — the Law's seriousness. The unfathomable depth of God's love (Rom 11:33; Eph 3:18-19).
- Scripture
- John 3:16, Rom 8:32, Mark 9:43, Rom 11:33, Eph 3:18-19
- Imagery & language
- Son given; quenchless flames; depth.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — hell; Gospel — the Son given.
- Connection to previous
- The Son given.
He lovingly provides everything my soul needs, and he does not neglect what my body needs as well. When my strength fails and my powers can do no more, my God pours out his strength; he does not fail me in need. Everything else lasts only its day; God's great love lasts forever.
Body and soul provided for (SC First Article; Matt 6:25-33). 'My power is made perfect in weakness' (2 Cor 12:9).
- Scripture
- Matt 6:25-33, Phil 4:19, 2 Cor 12:9, Isa 40:29-31
- Imagery & language
- Soul and body; strength in weakness.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — provision.
- Connection to previous
- Provision.
When I sleep he is still near, his guardian eye resting on me; new gifts and blessings cheer me when morning streaks the sky. If it were not for God's protection and the guidance of his face, I would never have seen the end of my trouble. Everything else lasts only its day; God's great love lasts forever.
God neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps 121:3-8). Mercies new every morning (Lam 3:22-23). Luther's Morning and Evening Prayers in verse.
- Scripture
- Ps 121:3-8, Lam 3:22-23, Ps 4:8, Ps 34:19
- Imagery & language
- Guardian eye; morning gifts.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — protection.
- Connection to previous
- Protection.
As a father never turns completely from a wayward child but still longs for the prodigal and to be reconciled, so my many sins and errors find a tender, forgiving God, who corrects weakness with his rod — not in vengeance, not with terrors. Everything else lasts only its day; God's great love lasts forever.
The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24). 'As a father shows compassion to his children' (Ps 103:13). Chastening, not vengeance (Heb 12:5-11) — the Lutheran distinction between fatherly discipline of believers and God's wrath on the impenitent (Ap XII).
- Scripture
- Luke 15:11-24, Ps 103:8-14, Heb 12:5-11
- Imagery & language
- Prodigal; rod, not vengeance.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — sins; Gospel — pardoning Father.
- Connection to previous
- Pardoning Father.
Since there can be no change or coldness in my Father's love, I lift my hands boldly and come to you as your child. Grant me grace, God, to love, trust and obey you with all my might, all my life, day and night, and when this brief life is over, to praise and love you forever.
God does not change (Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17). Boldness at the throne of grace (Heb 4:16). The prayer to love, trust and obey echoes the First Commandment's explanation, now as grace's fruit (Deut 6:5).
- Scripture
- Mal 3:6, Jas 1:17, Heb 4:16, Deut 6:5, 1 Tim 2:8
- Imagery & language
- Unchanging love; lifted hands.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — boldness; sanctification.
- Connection to previous
- Response.
Themes
Praise and adoration Divine care and providence Trust in God Grateful response to grace