May We Thy Precepts Lord Fulfill
May we thy precepts, Lord, fulfill
This hymn reflects Lutheran emphasis on sanctification and the Christian life lived under God's Word, petitioning for grace to fulfill divine precepts. It connects petition for God's protection with active obedience, balancing law and gospel in the believer's daily walk.
History & Background
Originally composed as 'Erhalt uns, Herr' in German by William Böhm, this hymn was first published in Böhm's collection in 1602. The English translation by Charles Porterfield Krauth appeared in the 1867 Lutheran Hymnal, becoming a standard English version in American Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 728
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 353
- Lutheran Service Book — 698
- Lutheran Worship — 389
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 412
Translation
Bulletin Note
By William Böhm (1602), this hymn marries Lutheran piety with the melody Erhalt uns Herr, a tune associated with Martin Luther's prayer for protection. It voices the Reformation's conviction that believers are simultaneously justified by grace and called to sanctified living.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran paradox: God's law calls us to obedience, yet only God's grace enables that obedience—a perfect setting for preaching the dual movement of Law and Gospel in the Christian life.
Themes
God's will and purpose Prayer and petition Obedience to God's law Divine protection Sanctification