O Lord Whose Bounteous Hand Again

O Lord whose bounteous hand again

O Lord Whose Bounteous Hand Again is a hymn text by Matthias Loy (1880) in L.M. meter. Found in lw 389, tlh 567.

The hymn expresses the Lutheran understanding of God's gracious providence in providing for creation and human sustenance as a manifestation of divine love and care. It emphasizes gratitude as the proper human response to God's unmerited blessings, reflecting the Law-Gospel dynamic of recognizing divine generosity.

History & Background

This hymn was authored by Matthias Loy, a prominent 19th-century Lutheran minister and hymnodist, and published in The Evangelical Hymnal and other Lutheran hymnals of the period. It became a standard American Lutheran hymn for harvest and Thanksgiving observances.

Hymnal Appearances

Lutheran Worship — 389
The Lutheran Hymnal — 567

Bulletin Note

Composed by Matthias Loy (1880), this L.M. hymn reflects Lutheran teaching on divine providence and grace, emphasizing thanksgiving as the Christian's grateful response to God's generous care for creation and human need.

Preaching Connection

This hymn amplifies the Gospel's call to joyful gratitude by showing how recognition of God's unmerited bounty transforms mere obligation into willing praise and stewardship.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

The Fourth Petition Small Catechism — The Lord's Prayer

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

An anonymous harvest hymn. God's generous hand has poured out the harvest again, and all our joy is his gift (st. 1). It prays that we never forget the Giver, and that our lives bear fruit in return (st. 2). It looks ahead from the earthly harvest to the last one: may we who sow reap eternal life with joy on 'Thy great harvest-day' (st. 3).

Central theme: Thanks for the harvest as God's gift alone, turning toward the final harvest of eternal life

Structure

Three six-line long-meter stanzas (8.8.8.8.8.8). Thanks (1); gratitude and fruit (2); the final harvest (3).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: the 'thankless heart' that forgets (2). Gospel: 'Thy gift alone'; 'heavenly grace'; 'joy in endless life' (1-3).

Confessional Connections

Ps 65:9 (TLH's text): 'You visit the earth and water it.' St. 1, 'Our joy to be Thy gift alone': all of it comes 'out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me' (SC Creed I). St. 2: the danger of forgetting the Giver (Deut 8:11-18; Rom 1:21). SC Fourth Petition: God gives daily bread even to the wicked, but we pray that he 'would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.' St. 3 moves from sowing and reaping (Gal 6:8) to the end of the age, the harvest (Matt 13:39).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Harvest festival; Thanksgiving Day; Rogation.

Historical Notes

Author unknown. The tune comes from Strassburg (1541).

About the Tune

ALL' EHR' UND LOB SOLL GOTTES SEIN (Kirchengesangbuch, Strassburg, 1541).

Scripture References

Ps 65:9-13 Ps 145:15-16 Heb 1:3 Jas 1:17 Deut 8:10-18 Rom 1:21 John 15:8 Gal 6:8-9 Ps 126:5-6 Ps 121:4-8 Matt 13:39 Rev 14:15

Stanza by Stanza

1 O Lord, whose bounteous hand again…

Lord, your generous hand has again poured out your gifts in plenty. You sustain all creation and crown the whole earth with goodness. Lord of the harvest, we confess here that our joy is your gift alone.

'You crown the year with your bounty' (Ps 65:11). 'He upholds the universe by the word of his power' (Heb 1:3). 'Every good gift… is from above' (Jas 1:17). SC Creed I.

Scripture: Ps 65:9-13, Heb 1:3, Jas 1:17, Ps 145:15-16
Imagery & language: Bounteous hand; sustaining; crowned with goodness; gift alone.
Law / Gospel: Gospel: everything is gift.
Connection to previous: Gift alone.

harvest providence thanksgiving

2 Oh, may we ne'er with thankless heart…

May we never forget, with ungrateful hearts, where our blessings come from! Keep giving us your heavenly grace, Lord, and keep teaching us what we owe you. May our lives repay your care with godly fruit and show that we are yours.

'Take care lest you forget the LORD your God' (Deut 8:11). 'They did not honor him as God or give thanks to him' (Rom 1:21). 'By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples' (John 15:8).

Scripture: Deut 8:10-18, Rom 1:21, John 15:8
Imagery & language: Thankless heart; heavenly grace; fruit divine.
Law / Gospel: Law: ingratitude. Gospel: grace that bears fruit.
Connection to previous: Never thankless.

gratitude sanctification good works

3 Lord, grant that we who sow to Thee…

Lord, grant that we who sow for you may reap eternal life with joy. Guard every heart and keep your servants day and night, so that all may bring you joy, Lord, on your great harvest day.

'The one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life' (Gal 6:8). 'Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy' (Ps 126:5). 'The harvest is the end of the age' (Matt 13:39). 'The harvest of the earth is fully ripe' (Rev 14:15).

Scripture: Gal 6:8-9, Ps 126:5-6, Matt 13:39, Rev 14:15, Ps 121:4-8
Imagery & language: Sowing; reaping eternal life; Guardian; harvest day.
Law / Gospel: Gospel: the eternal harvest.
Connection to previous: Great harvest-day.

eschatology eternal life harvest

Themes

God's providence Harvest and thanksgiving Divine bounty Stewardship Creation care

Look Further

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