Our Lord and God Oh Bless This Day
Our Lord and God, oh bless this day
Our Lord and God Oh Bless This Day is a hymn text by Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1817) in 7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6 meter. Translated by Peer Böhlmann. Found in elw 785, lsb 922, tlh 337. Sung to KIRKEN DEN ER ET GAMMELT HUS.
This hymn expresses the Reformation conviction that God's covenant with His people is immutable and His blessings are renewed daily, reflecting Grundtvig's emphasis on the living voice of the Gospel in congregational worship. The prayer for blessing connects to Lutheran understanding of God's gracious sustenance of creation and the Church.
History & Background
Written by N.F.S. Grundtvig in 1817, this Danish hymn reflects his theology of God's perpetual covenant and blessing over creation and the Church. The text was translated into English by Peer Böhlmann in 1989 for the ELW and appears in multiple Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 785
- Lutheran Service Book — 922
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 337
Translation
Bulletin Note
Grundtvig (1783–1872), Danish pastor and hymn-writer, penned this invocation of God's covenant mercies. His vision of the "living voice" of the Gospel in congregational song shaped Lutheran hymnody for generations.
Preaching Connection
This hymn develops the Gospel's promise of God's immutable covenant and daily renewal of grace, which strengthens faith's response when the Law exposes our need for that very blessing.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Proclamation of Christ's Church as eternally founded on the Rock (Matthew 16:18), immovable amid historical upheaval, sustained by grace rather than human institutions, demanding faithful living in confidence of salvation
Overview
A Norwegian confirmation hymn by Johan Nordahl Brun, bishop of Bergen. The congregation asks God to bless the day and turn none of his children away (st. 1); bless the Word to the young, whom his grace embraced from their mothers' arms in Baptism — own them now (st. 2); accept their vows, but since they are weak, arm them to be faithful unto death (st. 3); when they leave home and Satan tempts, may their baptismal grace be their refuge: 'God's covenant stands for aye' (st. 4). Strongly baptismal: the comfort rests on God's covenant, not on the confirmands' promise.
Central theme: The congregation's prayer for confirmands: their strength lies not in their vows but in God's baptismal covenant
Structure
Four nine-line stanzas. Blessing (1) — the young baptized (2) — weak vows, God's arming (3) — baptismal refuge (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'they are weak and frail'; Satan alluring (3-4). Gospel: grace from mothers' arms; 'baptismal grace… a refuge'; 'God's covenant stands for aye' (2, 4).
Confessional Connections
Isa 54:10 (TLH's text): 'my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.' St. 3 is sober Lutheran realism: confirmands' vows are real but 'they are weak and frail' — so the prayer is for God's arming. St. 4: Luther's counsel in temptation, 'I am baptized!' — Baptism as lifelong refuge, 'God's covenant stands for aye' (LC IV.44, 77-86: Baptism remains even when we fall; return to it by repentance). Infant Baptism: 'From mother's arms Thy grace / With love did them embrace' (LC IV.47-57).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Confirmation; Baptism; youth.
Historical Notes
Brun (1745-1816), bishop of Bergen and Norwegian patriot poet, wrote it in 1786. Døving (1867-1937) translated st. 2-3 (1909); TLH's stanza credits are composite.
About the Tune
REUTER (Fritz Reuter, 1916).
Scripture References
Isa 54:10 John 6:37 Mark 10:14-16 Rom 10:9-10 Matt 28:19 Matt 26:41 Eph 6:10-11 Rev 2:10 1 Pet 3:21 Gal 3:27 Rom 8:15
Stanza by Stanza
Our Lord and God, bless this day and hear us, we beg you; turn away none of your children who now come before you. We come before your face and pray: let your rich grace come down from heaven in all your wonderful love, and keep us by your Spirit.
'Whoever comes to me I will never cast out' (John 6:37). 'My steadfast love shall not depart from you' (Isa 54:10).
- Scripture
- John 6:37, Isa 54:10
- Imagery & language
- Blessing; none turned away; grace; Spirit.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — grace sought.
- Connection to previous
- Bless this day.
Bless your Word to all the young; let them, possessing your truth, bear true witness with heart and tongue, confessing their faith and ours. From their mothers' arms your grace embraced them with love; baptized into your name, you claimed them as yours. Lord, own them now as yours!
'Let the children come to me' (Mark 10:14). 'With the heart one believes… with the mouth one confesses' (Rom 10:10). Baptized into the name (Matt 28:19). LC IV on infant Baptism.
- Scripture
- Mark 10:14-16, Rom 10:9-10, Matt 28:19
- Imagery & language
- Word to the young; confession; mothers' arms; baptized.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — claimed in Baptism.
- Connection to previous
- The young.
When they renew their vows today, accept them with your favor; and when they promise to be true, may they never forget it! But they are weak and frail when Satan's armies attack; arm them with your strength and grant that in the fight they are faithful unto death!
'The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak' (Matt 26:41). 'Be strong in the Lord… put on the whole armor' (Eph 6:10-11). 'Be faithful unto death' (Rev 2:10).
- Scripture
- Matt 26:41, Eph 6:10-11, Rev 2:10
- Imagery & language
- Vows renewed; weak and frail; Satan; armed; faithful unto death.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — weakness; Gospel — God's arming.
- Connection to previous
- Weak vows.
And when they leave their childhood home and Satan comes tempting, may their baptismal grace become a reassuring refuge! Blessed is the one who can then say, 'God's covenant stands forever.' Whoever trusts in God alone will never be undone — God is his mighty Father!
'Baptism… now saves you' (1 Pet 3:21). 'As many as were baptized… have put on Christ' (Gal 3:27). 'You have received the Spirit of adoption… Abba! Father!' (Rom 8:15). LC IV.44: 'I am baptized!'
- Scripture
- 1 Pet 3:21, Gal 3:27, Rom 8:15, Isa 54:10
- Imagery & language
- Childhood home; Satan alluring; baptismal grace; covenant forever.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Baptism as refuge.
- Connection to previous
- Baptismal refuge.
Themes
God's blessing Divine care Constancy of God Daily protection