O Lord My God I Cry to Thee
O Lord my God, I cry to Thee
The hymn expresses the Lutheran emphasis on the sinner's cry for mercy and God's gracious response through Christ. It reflects the law-gospel pattern central to Lutheran theology, acknowledging human sinfulness while affirming divine forgiveness.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this German hymn in the early 17th century as a penitential prayer. Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in 1863, and it appeared in The Chorale Book for England.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 297
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 600
Translation
Bulletin Note
Martin Behm (1557–1622) composed this hymn during the Reformation's maturation, giving voice to the Lutheran conviction that God's hearing itself is an act of grace—the sinner's cry finds a merciful Father.
Preaching Connection
This hymn powerfully embodies the law-gospel dialectic: the sinner's desperate plea before God's throne becomes the occasion for proclaiming the grace that answers all our crying with the assurance of divine compassion.
Themes
Repentance and confession Divine mercy Supplication Trust in God's grace