Jehovah, Let Me Now Adore Thee
Jehovah, let me now adore thee
Jehovah, Let Me Now Adore Thee is a hymn text by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen (1704) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW93 189, lw 446, tlh 21. Sung to LIEBSTER JESU.
The hymn emphasizes personal devotion and direct access to God through Christ as mediator, central to Lutheran theology. It reflects the pietistic focus on heartfelt prayer and the believer's confidence in presenting petitions to God through Jesus' name.
History & Background
Originally written in German by Freylinghausen for his hymnal Geistreiches Gesangbuch (1704). Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in her Chorale Book for England (1863), becoming a standard Lutheran hymn in English-speaking churches.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 189
- Lutheran Worship — 446
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 21
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen (1704), a German pietist hymn writer. This hymn captures the devotional warmth of early Lutheran pietism while maintaining the Reformation's emphasis on Christ as sole mediator between God and the believer.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran insight that law exposes our unworthiness, but gospel transforms that very unworthiness into bold access through Christ's mediation—making it a perfect sung response to any proclamation of justification by grace through faith.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
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
Bartholomäus Crasselius (1667–1724) studied at Halle under A. H. Francke and was shaped by Pietism; pastor at Nidda (Hesse), then from 1708 at Düsseldorf (index; from memory, where he clashed with the authorities). 'Dir, dir, Jehova, will ich singen' was first printed in 1695 in the Hassel hymnal (Luppius), then in Freylinghausen's Geistreiches Gesangbuch (Halle, 1697/1704). Theme, from the text: praise and prayer to the Father offered through the Son and by the Spirit, prayer heard 'in Jesus' name' (John 16:23–24), a Trinitarian order of prayer worth tracing in the analysis. Melody: anonymous, Hamburg 1690 (Wikipedia). Bach: four-part BWV 299 in the 1725 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (on a different melody); voice-and-continuo BWV 452 in Schemelli's Gesangbuch (1736). Winkworth 1863, altered.
Sources: Wikipedia 'Dir, dir, Jehova, will ich singen'.
Overview
A hymn on prayer and praise by Bartholomäus Crasselius, a pastor associated with the Halle Pietists, published in Freylinghausen's hymnal. It is a small theology of prayer: we praise God only through his Son (st. 1); the Father draws us to the Son and the Son to the Father, while the Spirit governs us (st. 2); the Spirit prompts our praise and makes it pleasing (st. 3), pleads with unspeakable sighs and witnesses that we are God's children (st. 4); the Father bends to hear (st. 5); and so 'in Jesus' name I boldly seek Thy face and take from Thee… grace for grace' (st. 6). The Trinity is present in every act of Christian prayer.
Central theme: Christian prayer and praise as the Triune God's work in us: through the Son, by the Spirit, to the Father
Structure
Six six-line stanzas (9.10.9.10.10.10). Through the Son (1) — drawn by Father and Son (2) — the Spirit prompting (3-4) — the Father hearing (5) — boldness in Jesus' name (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel: access to the Father through Christ; the Spirit's help in weakness ('lips like mine,' 4); 'grace for grace' (6).
Confessional Connections
Prayer in Jesus' name (John 16:23, TLH's text): our prayers and praises please God only through Christ the Mediator (Ap IV.212ff; AC XXI). 'Father, draw me' (John 6:44): conversion and faith are God's work (FC II.26). The Spirit's intercession and witness of adoption (Rom 8:15-16, 26). Lutheran note: the Spirit 'teaches' prayer through the Word and promises of God (LC III.4-24: God's command and promise are the ground of prayer), not through inner impulses apart from the Word. 'Prayer… according to Thy will' (1 John 5:14).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Rogate (Easter 6); Trinity season; prayer services; general.
Historical Notes
Crasselius (1667-1724) was a pastor at Nidda and Düsseldorf; the hymn appeared in 1697 and in Freylinghausen's Halle hymnal (1704).
About the Tune
DIR, DIR, JEHOVA (Geistreiches Gesangbuch, Halle, 1704).
Scripture References
John 16:23 Gal 4:6 Ex 15:11 Heb 13:15 John 14:6 John 6:44 John 12:32 Gal 5:16, 25 Phil 4:7 Eph 5:18-19 John 4:23-24 Rom 8:15-17, 26-27 1 John 5:14-15 Eph 3:12 Heb 4:16 John 1:16
Stanza by Stanza
LORD, let me worship you now — for where is there a god like you, Lord? I want to come before you with songs; let your Holy Spirit teach me now to praise you in the name of the one through whom alone our songs can please you, your blessed Son!
'Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?' (Exod 15:11). Praise pleases God only 'through Him' — the sacrifice of praise is offered through Christ (Heb 13:15; John 14:6). The Spirit teaches praise.
- Scripture
- Exod 15:11, Heb 13:15, John 14:6, John 16:23
- Imagery & language
- Adoration; songs through the Son.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise acceptable through Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Through the Son.
Father, draw me to my Savior so that your dear Son may draw me to you; let your Spirit guide all my conduct and govern both senses and reason in me, so that your peace may never leave me but wake sweet melodies in my heart.
'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him' (John 6:44); 'I… will draw all people to myself' (John 12:32). Mutual drawing of Father and Son. The Spirit governs the whole person (Gal 5:16, 25). Peace (Phil 4:7). Melody in the heart (Eph 5:19).
- Scripture
- John 6:44, John 12:32, Gal 5:16, 25, Phil 4:7, Eph 5:19
- Imagery & language
- Drawing; Spirit's rule; melodies.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Father draws.
- Connection to previous
- Drawn.
Grant that your Spirit may prompt my praises; then my singing will surely please you. The sounds my heart raises then are sweet, and you will hear my prayer in spirit and truth. Then your Spirit will lift my heart to you to sing psalms of praise in high degree.
Worship 'in spirit and truth' (John 4:23-24). Spiritual songs (Eph 5:18-19). 'Psalms… in high degree' — echo of the Songs of Ascents (Pss 120-134).
- Scripture
- John 4:23-24, Eph 5:18-19, Col 3:16
- Imagery & language
- Spirit-prompted praise.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's gift.
- Connection to previous
- Spirit prompts.
For he can plead for me with sighs that my lips cannot speak; he moves me to pray with earnest cries and bears witness with my spirit that I am yours, a joint heir with Christ, so I may dare to say: heavenly Father, hear me when I pray!
Rom 8:26: 'the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.' Rom 8:15-17: 'by whom we cry Abba… the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… heirs… fellow heirs with Christ.' Gal 4:6 (TLH's text).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:15-17, 26-27, Gal 4:6
- Imagery & language
- Sighs; witness; joint heir.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's intercession and witness.
- Connection to previous
- Spirit pleads.
When my heart rises in prayer to you through your Holy Spirit, your heart, Father, bends kindly toward me in fervent love and favor, gladly fulfilling the request I have made according to your will.
The Father's heart 'bends' — like the father running to the prodigal (Luke 15:20). 'If we ask anything according to his will he hears us' (1 John 5:14-15). LC III: God delights to hear.
- Scripture
- 1 John 5:14-15, Luke 15:20, Matt 7:11
- Imagery & language
- Ascending heart; bending heart.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Father hears.
- Connection to previous
- Father hears.
And whatever your Spirit teaches me to seek from you must be a prayer you will grant through him who bought me and raised me to be your child and heir. In Jesus' name I boldly seek your face and receive from you, my Father, grace upon grace.
'Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you' (John 16:23). Boldness (Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16). 'Bought me' (1 Cor 6:20). 'Grace for grace' — 'from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace' (John 1:16).
- Scripture
- John 16:23, Eph 3:12, Heb 4:16, 1 Cor 6:20, John 1:16
- Imagery & language
- Jesus' name; boldness; grace for grace.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — boldness in Christ.
- Connection to previous
- In Jesus' name.
Themes
Adoration Prayer and petition Divine mercy Intercession through Christ