O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea
O Lord of heaven and earth and sea
O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea is a hymn text by Christopher Wordsworth (1862) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Found in elw 442, lbw 408, lsb 781, lw 404. Sung to MELCOMBE.
The hymn exemplifies Lutheran teaching on gratitude and Christian stewardship, emphasizing that all earthly goods are gifts from God to be used for His glory and the neighbor's good. It reflects the theology of creation care and proper use of material blessings within the doctrine of vocation.
History & Background
Written by Christopher Wordsworth in 1862 and published in his Holy Year; or, Hymns for Sundays and Holidays throughout the Year. The hymn became widely popular in Anglican and Lutheran hymnals from the late 19th century onward.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 442
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 408
- Lutheran Service Book — 781
- Lutheran Worship — 404
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 443
Bulletin Note
Written by Christopher Wordsworth (1807–1885), the nephew and poetic heir of William Wordsworth, this stewardship hymn appeared in 1862. It became central to Lutheran teaching on vocation and proper use of material creation.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the doctrine of creation into a call for grateful stewardship, holding together divine generosity (Gospel) and our responsibility to use earthly goods for God's glory and the neighbor's good (sanctified life under the Law).
Overview
Christopher Wordsworth's offertory hymn from The Holy Year (1863). Each stanza ends 'Who givest all.' It praises God for the gifts of creation — sunshine, flowers, harvest (st. 1-2), peaceful homes and health (st. 3) — then for the gift of his Son (st. 4) and the Spirit (st. 5), for redemption, forgiveness and the means of grace (st. 6). It concludes that what we spend on ourselves we lose, what we 'lend' to God we keep as treasure (st. 7), and that even our power to give comes from him (st. 8). It follows the Creed's three articles and then applies them to giving.
Central theme: God the giver of all — creation, his Son, his Spirit, salvation — and our giving as a response
Structure
Eight four-line stanzas (8.8.8.4) with the refrain 'Who givest all.' First Article gifts (1-3) — Second (4) — Third (5-6) — application to giving (7-8).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; the Son given 'for a world undone,' sins forgiven, means of grace.
Confessional Connections
The three articles of the Creed as God's giving (LC II: 'He has given us himself with all creatures… then His Son… then the Holy Spirit'). Means of grace (st. 6; AC V). Giving as response, not merit; 'lending to the Lord' (Prov 19:17) is a promise, not a purchase of salvation.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Offertory; stewardship; Thanksgiving; harvest festivals.
Historical Notes
Wordsworth (1807-1885), Bishop of Lincoln; The Holy Year (1863).
About the Tune
ES IST KEIN TAG (Johann D. Meyer, 1692); row 1175 uses WITTENBERG NEW (LW/LSB form).
Scripture References
Ps 146:6 Acts 14:17 Ps 65:9-13 Jas 1:17 Rom 8:32 John 3:16 Acts 2:38 Isa 11:2 Gal 5:22 Eph 1:7 Col 1:5 Prov 19:17 Matt 6:19-21 Luke 12:33 Acts 17:25, 28 1 Chr 29:14
Stanza by Stanza
Lord of heaven, earth and sea, all praise and glory to you. How shall we show our love to you, who give everything?
God as Creator of all (Ps 146:6; Acts 4:24). The question 'How shall we show our love?' frames the hymn — the answer is giving as response. Refrain 'Who givest all' — God is the giver, we receivers (Jas 1:17).
- Scripture
- Ps 146:6, Acts 4:24, 1 John 4:19
- Imagery & language
- Creator; question.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God the giver.
- Connection to previous
- Opening.
Golden sunshine, spring air, sweet flowers and fruit declare your love; when harvests ripen, you are there, who give everything.
Creation testifies to God's goodness (Acts 14:17; Ps 65:9-13). 'Thou art there' — God's active providence in harvest, not a distant clockmaker. Refrain 'Who givest all' — God is the giver, we receivers (Jas 1:17).
- Scripture
- Acts 14:17, Ps 65:9-13, Ps 104:13-15, Matt 5:45
- Imagery & language
- Sunshine; flowers; harvest.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — creation's gifts.
- Connection to previous
- Creation.
For peaceful homes and healthy days, for all the blessings the earth displays, we owe you thanks and praise, who give everything.
Homes, health — the Fourth Petition's 'daily bread': 'devout husband or wife, devout children… good government, good weather, peace, health' (SC). Thanksgiving as duty ('owe'). Refrain 'Who givest all' — God is the giver, we receivers (Jas 1:17).
- Scripture
- Ps 103:2-5, 1 Thess 5:18, Matt 6:11
- Imagery & language
- Homes; health.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — daily blessings.
- Connection to previous
- Daily bread.
You did not spare your only Son but gave him for a ruined world, and freely with that blessed one you give everything.
Rom 8:32 nearly verbatim: 'He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?' 'A world undone' — ruined by sin. 'Freely' — grace. The refrain gains its deepest meaning here: in giving Christ, God gives all. Refrain 'Who givest all' — God is the giver, we receivers (Jas 1:17).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:32, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10
- Imagery & language
- Not sparing; world undone.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the gift of the Son.
- Connection to previous
- The Son.
You give the Spirit's holy gift, Spirit of life, love and power, and shower his sevenfold graces on us all.
The Spirit as 'dower' (gift, Acts 2:38). Life (Rom 8:2), love (Rom 5:5), power (Acts 1:8). 'Sevenfold graces' (Isa 11:2). The refrain varies to 'Upon us all.'
- Scripture
- Acts 2:38, Rom 8:2, Rom 5:5, Acts 1:8, Isa 11:2
- Imagery & language
- Dower; sevenfold graces.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the gift of the Spirit.
- Connection to previous
- The Spirit.
For redeemed souls, forgiven sins, the means of grace and hopes of heaven, what can be given to you, Lord, who give everything?
Redemption, forgiveness, 'means of grace' (Word and Sacraments, AC V), and hope of heaven — the whole Gospel. The question returns: what can we give? Nothing that repays (Ps 116:12; Rom 11:35). Refrain 'Who givest all' — God is the giver, we receivers (Jas 1:17).
- Scripture
- Eph 1:7, Col 1:5, Ps 116:12, Rom 11:35
- Imagery & language
- Redemption; means of grace.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — salvation's gifts.
- Connection to previous
- Salvation.
We lose what we spend on ourselves; whatever we lend to you, Lord, we have as treasure without end, you who give all;
Matt 6:19-21: treasures on earth perish; treasures in heaven endure. 'Lend' — Prov 19:17: 'Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD.' Not a purchase of salvation but a promise attached to generosity (Luke 12:33).
- Scripture
- Matt 6:19-21, Prov 19:17, Luke 12:33, 1 Tim 6:18-19
- Imagery & language
- Losing and keeping; lending.
- Law / Gospel
- Sanctification — generosity.
- Connection to previous
- Giving.
to you, from whom we receive our life, our gifts, and our very power to give. May we live with you forever, who give everything!
Acts 17:25, 28: God 'gives to all mankind life and breath'; 'in him we live.' Even 'our power to give' comes from God (1 Chr 29:14) — no room for boasting. The hymn ends in hope of eternal life. Refrain 'Who givest all' — God is the giver, we receivers (Jas 1:17).
- Scripture
- Acts 17:25, 28, 1 Chr 29:14, 1 Cor 4:7
- Imagery & language
- Derivation; power to give.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — all from God.
- Connection to previous
- Conclusion.
Themes
Stewardship of creation Gratitude for God's provision Christian giving and service God's sovereignty over all