Lord God, to Thee We Give All Praise
Lord God, to Thee we give all praise
The hymn expresses Lutheran confidence in God's providential care and the doctrine of guardian angels, grounding faith in Scripture rather than speculation. It reflects Grundtvig's pastoral concern for assuring believers of God's personal attention to their lives.
History & Background
Written by Danish hymnodist Nikolai Grundtvig in 1817, this hymn reflects his emphasis on living faith and God's protective care over His people. It was translated into English by Gracia Grindal in 1978 and has become widely used in Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 865
- Lutheran Service Book — 522
- Lutheran Worship — 189
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 254
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Danish pastor Nikolai Grundtvig in 1817, this hymn grounds the medieval doctrine of guardian angels in Scripture and pastoral care, assuring believers of God's personal, watchful presence in daily life.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens the Gospel proclamation of God's providential grace by anchoring believers' confidence not in their own vigilance but in the Father's attentive love—a corrective to both anxiety and self-reliance.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological anticipation (St. 1-2) → Incarnational paradox (St. 3) → Pneumatological reign (St. 4)
Themes
Guardian angels God's protection Divine care Trust in Providence Childlike faith