Now that the Day hath Reached Its Close
Now that the day hath reached its close
Now that the Day hath Reached Its Close is a hymn text by Unknown (1800) in L.M. meter. Found in tlh 561. Sung to NUN DANKET ALL.
The hymn emphasizes God's protection through the night hours and the soul's commendation to divine care, reflecting Lutheran confidence in God's providence and safekeeping. It connects evening prayer to the daily cycle of death and resurrection, reminding believers of their dependence on God's grace.
History & Background
This hymn originates from German Lutheran evening prayer tradition, likely 19th century. It appears in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) as hymn 561 and reflects the evening compline genre of hymnody.
Hymnal Appearances
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 561
Bulletin Note
An anonymous 19th-century evening hymn reflecting Lutheran piety. Originally paired with the tune 'Nun danket all,' it draws worshippers into the ancient tradition of compline—commending body and soul to God's protection through the night watch.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel tension of evening prayer: acknowledging human helplessness in darkness while proclaiming the gospel of God's tireless mercy, making it a powerful liturgical echo of any sermon on faith in suffering or dependence on grace.
Background Research
TLH 561. "Nun sich der Tag geendet hat." AUTHORSHIP NUANCE: the first stanza and its melody appeared earlier, in Adam Krieger's Arien (1667). Johann Friedrich Hertzog (Dresden, 1647–99), a deacon's son then studying law at Wittenberg, took that stanza one evening in 1670 (per Fischer) and added eight of his own. So TLH's "Hertzog 1670" is right for most of the text, but st. 1 is Krieger's. Hertzog later tutored the sons of General von Arnim (1671–74), then practised as an advocate in Dresden (LL.D.). The 9-stanza text is in Luppius's hymnal (1692), and a 10th stanza was added in the Leipzig Gesang-Buch (1693) and Freylinghausen (1704). Fischer calls it "one of the best German evening hymns" (bach-cantatas.com). Bach harmonised Krieger's tune as BWV 396.
Overview
Johann Friedrich Hertzog's evening hymn, one of the best-loved German evening hymns. Day ends and the weary rest (st. 1); God never sleeps, for he is Light (st. 2); remember and protect me (st. 3); keep Satan away by angel arms (st. 4); my sins cry out, but your Son has fully atoned (st. 5); in him I am accepted, my Surety and Plea (st. 6); so I sleep in peace (st. 7); if this is my last night, lead me home (st. 8); I live and die to you (st. 9).
Central theme: Evening rest made secure by the atonement: God never sleeps, Christ is my Surety, and sleep or death are both safe in him
Structure
Nine common-meter quatrains. Nightfall (1) — the sleepless God (2) — protection (3-4) — atonement (5-6) — peace (7) — death (8) — living and dying to God (9).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'the evil I have done / Doth cry aloud to Thee'; Satan's fury (4-5). Gospel: 'Thy dear Son / Hath full atoned'; 'He is my Surety and my Plea' (5-6).
Confessional Connections
Ps 139:12 (TLH's text): 'Even the darkness is not dark to you.' St. 5: sin 'cries aloud' (cf. Abel's blood, Gen 4:10), but Christ's blood 'speaks a better word' (Heb 12:24); 'full atoned' — complete satisfaction (AC III; FC III). St. 6: 'In Him accepted' (Eph 1:6); 'Surety' (Heb 7:22) and 'Plea' (Advocate, 1 John 2:1) — forensic justification, Christ's merit pleaded before the judgment seat (Ap IV). St. 8-9: each night's sleep rehearses death; 'whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's' (Rom 14:8).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Evening; Vespers; Compline; funerals.
Historical Notes
Hertzog (1647-1699), a Dresden lawyer, wrote it as a student at Wittenberg (1670) for Adam Krieger's melody. TLH abridges it.
About the Tune
NUN SICH DER TAG GEENDET HAT (Adam Krieger, 1667).
Scripture References
Ps 139:12 Ps 121:4 1 John 1:5 Ps 91:11 Gen 4:10 Heb 12:24 Rom 3:25 Eph 1:6 Heb 7:22 1 John 2:1 Ps 4:8 Ps 90:10 John 14:2-3 Rom 14:7-8 Ps 46:7
Stanza by Stanza
Now that the day has ended and the sun shines no more, the weary find rest in sleep, and so do all who wept before.
'Come to me, all who labor… and I will give you rest' (Matt 11:28). 'Weeping may tarry for the night' (Ps 30:5).
- Scripture
- Matt 11:28, Ps 30:5
- Imagery & language
- Day closed; sun gone; toil-worn repose.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — rest given.
- Connection to previous
- Nightfall.
But you, my God, never sleep, for you yourself are Light; no darkness, however deep, can dim your perfect sight.
'He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep' (Ps 121:4). 'God is light, and in him is no darkness at all' (1 John 1:5). 'Darkness is as light with you' (Ps 139:12).
- Scripture
- Ps 121:4, 1 John 1:5, Ps 139:12
- Imagery & language
- Never sleeps; Light; perfect sight.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the sleepless Keeper.
- Connection to previous
- God never sleeps.
So, Lord, remember me through the darkness of night; protect me graciously and shield me with your power.
'Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people' (Ps 106:4). 'Jesus, remember me' (Luke 23:42).
- Scripture
- Ps 106:4, Luke 23:42
- Imagery & language
- Remember me; gloom; shield.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — remembered.
- Connection to previous
- Remember me.
Keep Satan's fury far from me with many an angel's arm; then I will be free from worry and safe from every harm.
'He will command his angels concerning you' (Ps 91:11). 'The devil has come down to you in great wrath' (Rev 12:12). SC Evening Prayer.
- Scripture
- Ps 91:11, Rev 12:12
- Imagery & language
- Satan's fury; angel arms; free from worry.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — the enemy; Gospel — angelic protection.
- Connection to previous
- Angel arms.
I know that the evil I have done cries out loudly to you; but in mercy your dear Son has fully atoned for me.
'The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me' (Gen 4:10) — yet Christ's blood 'speaks a better word than the blood of Abel' (Heb 12:24). 'Put forward as a propitiation by his blood' (Rom 3:25). AC III.
- Scripture
- Gen 4:10, Heb 12:24, Rom 3:25
- Imagery & language
- Evil crying aloud; Son atoned in full.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — accusing sin; Gospel — full atonement.
- Connection to previous
- Full atonement.
In him I will be accepted when I come pleading at your feet; he is my Guarantor and my Defense before your judgment seat.
'Accepted in the Beloved' (Eph 1:6, KJV). 'Jesus… the guarantor [surety] of a better covenant' (Heb 7:22). 'We have an advocate with the Father' (1 John 2:1). Ap IV.
- Scripture
- Eph 1:6, Heb 7:22, 1 John 2:1, Rom 8:33-34
- Imagery & language
- Accepted in Him; Surety; Plea; judgment seat.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — forensic justification.
- Connection to previous
- Surety and Plea.
And so I close my tired eyes with sweet peace in my heart. Why toss about in fears or sighs? God watches while I rest.
'In peace I will both lie down and sleep' (Ps 4:8). 'Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Rom 5:1).
- Scripture
- Ps 4:8, Rom 5:1, Ps 127:2
- Imagery & language
- Weary eyes; sweet peace; God watches.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — peace of the justified.
- Connection to previous
- God watches.
If this night turns out to be my last in this sad valley of cares, then lead me, Lord, to live with you and all your chosen heirs.
'Teach us to number our days' (Ps 90:12). 'I will come again and will take you to myself' (John 14:3). 'Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ' (Rom 8:17).
- Scripture
- Ps 90:12, John 14:2-3, Rom 8:17
- Imagery & language
- Last night; vale of cares; chosen heirs.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — death as homecoming.
- Connection to previous
- If the last night.
And so I live and die to you, mighty Lord of hosts; in life and in death deliver me from every fear and need.
'If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord' (Rom 14:8). 'The LORD of hosts is with us' (Ps 46:7).
- Scripture
- Rom 14:7-8, Ps 46:7
- Imagery & language
- Live and die to Thee; Lord of hosts; deliver.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — belonging to the Lord.
- Connection to previous
- Live and die.
Themes
Evening prayer Divine protection Submission to God's will Watchfulness in faith