Our Heavenly Father Hear

Our Heavenly Father hear

Our Heavenly Father Hear is a hymn text by Unknown in L.M. meter. Found in tlh 455.

The hymn embodies Lutheran confidence in God as a caring Father who hears and answers prayer according to His will. It reflects the Lutheran emphasis on direct access to God through prayer without mediation, grounded in the redemptive work of Christ.

History & Background

This hymn appears in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) as hymn 455. The author and original source are not definitively documented in standard hymnological references.

Hymnal Appearances

The Lutheran Hymnal — 455

Bulletin Note

A hymn of unknown authorship rooted in the Lutheran prayer tradition, set to the sturdy tune ERHALT UNS HERR ('Preserve Us, Lord'). Its confident address to God the Father reflects the Reformation's recovery of direct access to the throne of grace through Christ alone.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies Lutheran access theology—the Gospel promise that sinners need no mediator but Christ to approach God's throne, yet the Law's call to persistent, faithful prayer shapes the Christian life.

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

James Montgomery's versification of the Lord's Prayer (compare Luther's 'Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above'). Hear our prayer; hallowed be your name everywhere (st. 1); your kingdom come, your will be done as above (st. 2); daily bread while we live by your word; forgive as we forgive (st. 3); defend from temptation and Satan, deliver in the evil hour (st. 4); the doxology (st. 5).

Central theme: The Lord's Prayer sung petition by petition

Structure

Five short-meter quatrains following Luke 11 / Matt 6: address and First Petition (1) — Second and Third (2) — Fourth and Fifth (3) — Sixth and Seventh (4) — doxology (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law implied: guilt, temptation, evil (3-4). Gospel: forgiveness, deliverance, God's kingdom.

Confessional Connections

Luke 11:2-4 (TLH's text). Montgomery's petitions align with SC: hallowing the name worldwide (st. 1); the kingdom and will (st. 2; SC: 'when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit'); 'Our daily bread supply / While by Thy word we live' (st. 3) — joining bodily bread and the Word (Matt 4:4); forgiveness 'as we forgive' (SC Fifth Petition); 'From Satan's wiles, defend' (st. 4; SC Seventh). St. 5: the doxology (1 Chr 29:11), traditionally appended (SC Conclusion).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Rogate; catechesis; prayer services; anytime as a sung Lord's Prayer.

Historical Notes

Montgomery published it in Original Hymns (1853), dated 1835.

About the Tune

ST. BRIDE (Samuel Howard, 1762).

Scripture References

Luke 11:2-4 Matt 6:9-13 Mal 1:11 Ps 103:20-21 Matt 4:4 Eph 4:32 1 Cor 10:13 Eph 6:11 1 Chr 29:11

Stanza by Stanza

1 Our heav'nly Father, hear…

Our heavenly Father, hear the prayer we offer now. Let your name be holy far and near; let all nations bow to you.

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name' (Matt 6:9). 'From the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations' (Mal 1:11). SC First Petition.

Scripture: Matt 6:9, Luke 11:2, Mal 1:11
Imagery & language: Father; prayer; name hallowed; nations bow.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — the Father's name.
Connection to previous: Hallowed.

Lord's Prayer First Petition mission

2 Thy kingdom come; Thy will…

Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth in love, as saints and seraphim fulfil your holy will above.

'Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven' (Matt 6:10). 'Bless the LORD, O you his angels… who do his word' (Ps 103:20).

Scripture: Matt 6:10, Ps 103:20-21
Imagery & language: Kingdom; will; saints and seraphim.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — kingdom come.
Connection to previous: Kingdom and will.

Second Petition Third Petition

3 Our daily bread supply…

Supply our daily bread while we live by your word. Forgive the guilt of our sin as we forgive.

'Give us each day our daily bread' (Luke 11:3). 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word' (Matt 4:4). 'Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone' (Luke 11:4).

Scripture: Luke 11:3-4, Matt 4:4, Eph 4:32
Imagery & language: Daily bread; word; guilt forgiven; we forgive.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — bread and pardon.
Connection to previous: Bread and pardon.

Fourth Petition Fifth Petition forgiveness

4 From dark temptation's power,…

Defend us from the power of dark temptation and from Satan's tricks. Deliver us in the evil hour and guide us to the end.

'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil' (Matt 6:13). 'The schemes of the devil' (Eph 6:11). 'God is faithful… he will also provide the way of escape' (1 Cor 10:13).

Scripture: Matt 6:13, Eph 6:11, 1 Cor 10:13
Imagery & language: Temptation; Satan's wiles; evil hour; to the end.
Law / Gospel: Law — temptation; Gospel — deliverance.
Connection to previous: Deliver.

Sixth Petition Seventh Petition perseverance

5 Thine shall forever be…

Yours forever will be glory and divine power; the scepter, throne and majesty of heaven and earth are yours.

'Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory' (1 Chr 29:11). The traditional doxology.

Scripture: 1 Chr 29:11, Rev 5:13
Imagery & language: Glory; power; scepter; throne.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — praise.
Connection to previous: Doxology.

doxology Lord's Prayer

Themes

Prayer God's protection Trust in God's care Petition Divine providence

Look Further

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