O Lord Our Father Thanks and Praise
O Lord our Father thanks and praise
This hymn reflects Lutheran emphasis on gratitude as a proper response to God's sovereign mercy and providential care. It embodies the Reformation principle that thanksgiving arises from faith in God's promises and constitutes essential Christian worship.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this German hymn in the early 17th century as part of the Lutheran devotional and confessional tradition. It was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in the 1863 Lyra Germanica collection and has been included in various Lutheran hymnals including The Lutheran Hymnal (1941).
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 404
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 124
Translation
Bach Cantatas
- BWV 79: God the Lord is sun and shield (1725)
Bulletin Note
Composed by Martin Behm in 1602, this hymn anchors Lutheran piety in gratitude as the fruit of faith, wedding the doctrine of God's providence to the believer's sung response of praise and trust.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the movement from Law to Gospel: we acknowledge God's supreme authority and our dependence, then burst forth in joyful thanksgiving for unmerited mercy—the very rhythm of repentance and faith.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Fourth Petition Small Catechism — The Lord's Prayer
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Recognition of God's providential mercies (past and present) → Petition for God's continued presence and protection (future) → Doxological affirmation of Trinitarian praise (eternal)
Themes
Thanksgiving and praise God's providence Divine protection Christian gratitude Worship and adoration