Jehovah, Let Me Now Adore You
Jehovah, let me now adore you
This hymn expresses the Lutheran emphasis on prayer as the Christian's refuge and strength, grounded in the promise that God hears and answers prayer in Christ's name. It reflects the catechetical focus on the invocation of God's holy name and the comfort found in direct address to the Almighty.
History & Background
Christian Behm, a German pastor and hymnist, wrote this hymn in 1664 as an expression of personal devotion and trust in God's name and character. Catherine Winkworth's 1863 English translation made the hymn widely accessible to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 446
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 21
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Christian Behm in 1664, this hymn reflects the Lutheran catechetical emphasis on prayer as the Christian's refuge, grounded in God's promise to hear and answer petitions offered in Christ's name.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Gospel's promise that God's grace meets us in our helplessness: it moves from confession of human dependence to confident petition in Christ's name, embodying the Law's exposure of our need and the Gospel's assurance of the Father's attentive mercy.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law and Gospel: The soul's radical unworthiness (stanzas 1-2) gives way to Christ's redemptive power (stanzas 3-4). The hymn moves from honest confession of sin to confident reception of grace.
Themes
Praise of God Adoration Trust in Divine Providence Prayer