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Let All Together Praise Our God

Let all together praise our God

Let All Together Praise Our God is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1602) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW21 355, CW93 41, ELH 148, elw 278. Sung to LASST UNS ERFREUEN.

This hymn embodies Lutheran theology of the incarnation, celebrating God's self-disclosure in Christ's birth as an event of cosmic significance worthy of universal praise. It reflects the Reformation emphasis on joy in salvation and the accessibility of God's grace to all believers regardless of station.

History & Background

Martin Behm composed this German carol text in the early 17th century as a joyful nativity hymn emphasizing the incarnation. Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in 1863, making it widely accessible to English-speaking Lutheran and Reformed congregations.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 355
  • Christian Worship — 41
  • Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 148
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 278
  • Glory to God — 138
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 47
  • Lutheran Service Book — 389
  • Lift Up Your Hearts — 78
  • Lutheran Worship — 44
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 105

Translation

Catherine Winkworth

Bach Cantatas

  • BWV 79: God the Lord is sun and shield (1725)

Bulletin Note

Martin Behm (1557–1622) wrote this carol during the Reformation, when the church reclaimed the joy of Christmas as a people's feast. Set to the jubilant tune Lasst Uns Erfreuen, it reflects Lutheran conviction that God's grace overflows to all.

Preaching Connection

This hymn transforms the Law's revelation of God's transcendent majesty into the Gospel's proclamation that this same God has chosen radical nearness to us in Christ's nativity.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Invocation of creation to praise God → enumeration of creatures' gifts → call to gratitude and eternal adoration

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Christmas 1

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Christmas 1 (7×)
  • Advent 4 (1×)
  • Christmas Day (1×)
  • Christmas Eve (1×)
  • Holy Innocents (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Christmas 1 (6×)
  • Christmas 2 (1×)
  • Holy Innocents (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.

Themes

Nativity of Christ Joy and celebration Praise and worship God's incarnation Universal rejoicing

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