Lamb Of God We Fall before Thee

Lamb of God, we fall before Thee

Lamb Of God We Fall before Thee is a hymn text by Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1844) in 7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6 meter. Translated by Peer Ø. Strømme. Found in lw 311, tlh 358.

The hymn expresses the Lutheran understanding of justification through Christ's atoning sacrifice, presenting the penitent sinner's approach to the Lamb of God. It reflects Grundtvig's pastoral concern for personal appropriation of redemption through faith in Christ's completed work.

History & Background

Originally written in Danish by Grundtvig in 1844, this hymn reflects his theological emphasis on Christ's redemptive work. The English translation by Peer Ø. Strømme (1909) brought this Danish classic into Lutheran hymnody in America.

Hymnal Appearances

Lutheran Worship — 311
The Lutheran Hymnal — 358

Translation

Peer Ø. Strømme

Bulletin Note

Grundtvig's 1844 hymn captures the Danish pastor's vision of personal faith encountering Christ's redemptive work. It has become a cornerstone of Lutheran devotion, uniting contrition with assurance in the Lamb's sacrifice.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Lutheran dialectic of Law and Gospel: the law exposes our sin and drives us to our knees; the Gospel reveals the Lamb's completed atonement as the Father's answer to our deepest need.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

The Second Article (Concerning Redemption) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

Joseph Hart's hymn of total dependence on Christ (compare TLH 225). We trust only in his cross; everything else is dross (st. 1); every grace comes through his blood (st. 2). Then a remarkable catalog of what Jesus 'gives': true repentance and the absolving word 'Son, thy sins are all forgiven' (st. 3); faith to believe it and wisdom (st. 4); pure affections and wills to obey (st. 5); even our prayers — 'He that dictates them is Jesus; / He that answers is the same' (st. 6). Everything from repentance to prayer is gift.

Central theme: Christ as sole source of every spiritual good — repentance, faith, obedience and even prayer

Structure

Six 8.7.8.7 quatrains. The cross (1) — the blood (2) — repentance and absolution (3) — faith (4) — new obedience (5) — prayer (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel throughout: repentance, faith, affection and prayer are all gifts of Christ.

Confessional Connections

Heb 12:2 (TLH's text): Jesus, 'the founder and perfecter of our faith.' The hymn is a lyrical statement of monergism (FC II): repentance is given ('God exalted him… to give repentance… and forgiveness,' Acts 5:31); faith is given (Eph 2:8; FC II.25-26); renewed wills are given (Phil 2:13; FC II.65); even prayer is the Spirit's and Christ's work (Rom 8:26). St. 3: absolution, 'Son, thy sins are all forgiven' (Matt 9:2) — repentance includes faith in the absolution (AC XII.3-5). St. 1: 'All things else are only dross' (Phil 3:8).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Lent; Confession; Trinity season; Reformation.

Historical Notes

From Hart's Hymns Composed on Various Subjects (1759).

About the Tune

RINGE RECHT (Musikalischer Christenschatz, Basel, 1745).

Scripture References

Heb 12:2 Gal 6:14 Phil 3:7-8 Eph 1:3 Acts 5:31 Matt 9:2 Eph 2:8 Jas 1:5 Prov 20:12 Phil 2:13 Ezek 36:27 Rom 8:26 John 16:23-24

Stanza by Stanza

1 Lamb of God, we fall before Thee,…

Lamb of God, we fall before you, humbly trusting in your cross. Let that alone be all our glory; everything else is only rubbish.

'Far be it from me to boast except in the cross' (Gal 6:14). 'I count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ' (Phil 3:8).

Scripture: Gal 6:14, Phil 3:7-8, Heb 12:2
Imagery & language: Lamb; cross; glory; dross.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — the cross alone.
Connection to previous: The cross.

theology of the cross solus Christus

2 Thee we own a perfect Savior,…

We confess you a perfect Savior, the only source of all that is good. Every grace and every favor comes to us through Jesus' blood.

'Every spiritual blessing in Christ' (Eph 1:3). 'Redemption through his blood' (Eph 1:7).

Scripture: Eph 1:3, Eph 1:7, Jas 1:17
Imagery & language: Perfect Savior; only Source; through the blood.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — all grace through Christ.
Connection to previous: Every grace.

solus Christus blood of Christ

3 Jesus gives us true repentance…

Jesus gives us true repentance by his Spirit sent from heaven; he whispers this wonderful sentence: 'Son, your sins are all forgiven.'

'God exalted him… to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins' (Acts 5:31). 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven' (Matt 9:2). AC XII.

Scripture: Acts 5:31, Matt 9:2, John 16:8
Imagery & language: Repentance given; Spirit; 'thy sins are forgiven.'
Law / Gospel: Gospel — repentance and absolution as gifts.
Connection to previous: Repentance given.

repentance absolution monergism

4 Faith He grants us to believe it,…

He grants us faith to believe it and grateful hearts to treasure his love; do we lack wisdom? He must give it, and hearing ears and seeing eyes.

'By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God' (Eph 2:8). 'If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God' (Jas 1:5). 'The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both' (Prov 20:12).

Scripture: Eph 2:8, Jas 1:5, Prov 20:12
Imagery & language: Faith granted; wisdom; hearing ears, seeing eyes.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — faith as gift.
Connection to previous: Faith given.

faith monergism enlightenment

5 Jesus gives us pure affections,…

Jesus gives us pure affections and wills to do what he requires; he makes us follow his directions and inspires what he commands.

'It is God who works in you, both to will and to work' (Phil 2:13). 'I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes' (Ezek 36:27). Augustine: 'Give what you command, and command what you will.'

Scripture: Phil 2:13, Ezek 36:27
Imagery & language: Pure affections; wills; directions; inspires.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — new obedience as gift.
Connection to previous: Wills given.

sanctification new obedience monergism

6 All our prayers and all our praises,…

All our prayers and praises, rightly offered in his name — the one who dictates them is Jesus; the one who answers is the same.

'The Spirit helps us in our weakness… intercedes for us' (Rom 8:26). 'Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you' (John 16:23-24).

Scripture: Rom 8:26, John 16:23-24
Imagery & language: Prayers; His name; He dictates; He answers.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — prayer as gift.
Connection to previous: He dictates, He answers.

prayer Christ the Mediator

Themes

Christ's sacrifice Atonement Lamb of God Penitence and redemption Christ's passion

Look Further

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