Lord of Our Life
Lord of our life, and God of our salvation
Lord of Our Life is a hymn text by Matthias Loy (1880) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Philip Schaff. Found in ELH 439, elw 659, h82 635, lbw 366.
The hymn expresses Lutheran confidence in God's protective care and petitions for divine defense against spiritual and temporal enemies, reflecting the Reformation emphasis on God's sovereignty. It embodies the Lutheran principle of the justified Christian's reliance on God's grace rather than personal merit.
History & Background
Originally composed as a German hymn by Matthias Loy in the 19th century, reflecting Lutheran theological concerns. Translated into English by Philip Schaff and published in 1888, gaining significant use in American Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 439
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 659
- The Hymnal 1982 — 635
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 366
- Lutheran Service Book — 659
- Lutheran Worship — 301
- Trinity Hymnal — 534
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 258
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed in 1880 by Matthias Loy, a German-American Lutheran pastor, this hymn exemplifies Reformation theology: the justified Christian's confidence in God's protective grace rather than personal merit or earthly power.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Reformation conviction that human vulnerability before enemies (law) drives us to seek refuge in God's merciful dominion alone (gospel), making it an ideal response to any proclamation of divine sovereignty and grace.
Background Research
German 'Christe, du Beistand deiner Kreuzgemeine' by Matthäus Apelles von Löwenstern, written in 1644 during the Thirty Years' War as a plea for peace and printed half-anonymously in his Früelings-Mayen. Almost 200 years later the English MP Philip Pusey made a free paraphrase (c. 1840), seeing it as fitting the troubled state of the Church of England; published in Reinagle's Psalm and Hymn Tunes. Löwenstern (1594–1648) was an imperial counsellor at the courts of two Holy Roman Emperors, a devout Lutheran serving Roman Catholic employers bent on suppressing Lutheranism. Pusey's brother Edward was a leader of the Oxford Movement, which took comfort from the hymn.
Sources: Wikipedia 'Lord of Our Life and God of Our Salvation'; LCMS Worship, The Word in Song: Hymn of the Day Studies (study by Randall P. Wurschmidt).
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Lent 3; Proper 7
Suggested in the one-year series
- Lent 3 (7×)
- Lent 1 (2×)
- Trinity 23 (2×)
- Advent 2 (1×)
- Nativity of St. John the Baptist (1×)
- St. Barnabas (1×)
- Trinity 24 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 7 (4×)
- Proper 28 (2×)
- Proper 17 (1×)
- Proper 8 (1×)
- St. Michael and All Angels (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.
Overview
A prayer for the church under attack. Löwenstern, a Silesian statesman, wrote the original during the Thirty Years' War; Philip Pusey's free English version (1840) applied it to the troubles of the Church of England. It invokes God (st. 1), describes the church as an ark in a storm attacked by enemies (st. 2), confesses that only God can save (st. 3), and prays for peace in hearts, church, and world (st. 4) and even for the enemies' forgiveness (st. 5).
Central theme: Prayer for the church's preservation and peace amid enemies, external and internal
Structure
Invocation (1); the threatened ark (2); God's power (3); threefold peace (4); peace for all, and heaven (5).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law-like realism about attack and strife (including within the church); Gospel trust in God's power and peace; prayer for enemies.
Confessional Connections
AC VII: the church will remain forever. Preservation of the church amid persecution and false teaching.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Reformation; times of persecution or church conflict; prayers for the church; national crisis.
Historical Notes
Löwenstern (1594-1648), musician and statesman in Silesia, ennobled by the Emperor. Pusey (1799-1855) was a brother of Tractarian leader E. B. Pusey.
About the Tune
HERZLIEBSTER JESU (Johann Crüger, 1640) in TLH; ISTE CONFESSOR in LSB/ELW.
Scripture References
Ps 79:9 Gen 6-8 1 Pet 3:20-21 Eph 6:16 Matt 16:18 John 14:27 Matt 5:44 Luke 23:34
Stanza by Stanza
Lord of life, God of salvation, star in our night, hope of every nation: hear and receive your church's prayer, Lord God Almighty.
A cluster of titles: 'Lord of our life' (Acts 17:25), 'God of our salvation' (Ps 79:9, TLH's reference: 'Help us, O God of our salvation'), 'Star of our night' (Num 24:17; Rev 22:16), 'Hope of every nation' (Rom 15:12). The church prays corporately — 'Thy Church's supplication.'
- Scripture
- Ps 79:9, Acts 17:25, Num 24:17, Rev 22:16, Rom 15:12
- Imagery & language
- Star in the night; hope.
- Law / Gospel
- Prayer.
- Connection to previous
- Invocation.
See the hungry waves around your ark and your enemies unfurling their banners; while they hurl poisoned arrows, you can preserve us.
The church as Noah's ark (1 Pet 3:20-21) — a traditional image (the nave is named from navis, ship). The billows are the world's hostility; the enemies with banners suggest war (Löwenstern's context). 'Darts envenomed' — Eph 6:16 ('the flaming darts of the evil one'). 'Thou canst preserve us' — trust in God's power.
- Scripture
- 1 Pet 3:20-21, Gen 7:17-18, Ps 93:3-4, Eph 6:16, Ps 2:1-2
- Imagery & language
- Ark; billows; banners; poisoned darts.
- Law / Gospel
- Law (danger) and Gospel (God preserves).
- Connection to previous
- Describes the danger.
God can help when human defenses fail, save when sin attacks, and neither death nor hell will prevail against his church; grant us peace.
A threefold 'Thou canst': help when 'earthly armor faileth' (Ps 20:7), save when 'deadly sin assaileth' (Rom 7:24-25), and preserve the church — 'nor death nor hell prevaileth' paraphrases Matt 16:18. The deepest threat is sin, not armies. The stanza ends with a turn to the next: 'Grant us Thy peace.'
- Scripture
- Ps 20:7, Rom 7:24-25, Matt 16:18, Ps 33:16-17
- Imagery & language
- Failing armor; assault.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's power to save.
- Connection to previous
- God's capability.
Peace in our hearts, calming evil thoughts; peace in the church where brothers quarrel; peace while the world wages war; calm your enemies' rage.
Three spheres of peace: the heart (Phil 4:7), the church — 'where brothers are engaging' (fighting) acknowledges internal conflict honestly (1 Cor 1:10-11; 3:3) — and the world. 'Calm Thy foes' raging' (Ps 46:6, 9; 65:7). The order is significant: peace begins in hearts (forgiveness) and moves outward.
- Scripture
- Phil 4:7, 1 Cor 1:10-11, Eph 4:3, Ps 46:9, Ps 65:7
- Imagery & language
- Peace in heart, church, world.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — prayer for peace.
- Connection to previous
- Petition for peace.
Give us help until the enemies retreat; give them your truth so they may be forgiven; give peace on earth, or, after our struggle, peace in heaven.
A remarkable stanza: the church prays not for the destruction of its enemies but that they receive truth and forgiveness (Matt 5:44; Luke 23:34; 1 Tim 2:4). This is Christian prayer for enemies. The final line accepts that earthly peace may not come: 'or, after we have striven, / Peace in Thy heaven' — the ultimate peace (Heb 4:9; Rev 21:4).
- Scripture
- Matt 5:44, Luke 23:34, 1 Tim 2:4, Heb 4:9, Rev 21:4, 2 Tim 4:7
- Imagery & language
- Driven back; striving; heaven.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — forgiveness even for enemies.
- Connection to previous
- Final petitions.
Themes
God's protection and providence Petition for deliverance Divine majesty and mercy Spiritual warfare