Praise We the Lord This Day
Praise we the Lord this day
The hymn celebrates the Incarnation and God's gracious presence with humanity in Christ, affirming the central Christian mystery that God became human. It emphasizes the wonder of Emmanuel (God with us) as the foundation for Christian praise and confidence.
History & Background
Originally composed in German by Heinrich Held in the late 17th century. Translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1863 as part of her influential collection of German hymn translations.
Hymnal Appearances
- The Hymnal 1982 — 267
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 274
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Heinrich Held in 1695, this hymn celebrates the Incarnation as the foundation of Christian joy. It reflects the Lutheran conviction that God's presence in Christ assures us of grace over judgment.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Gospel's central comfort: in Christ's Incarnation, God's saving presence displaces our deepest fears, transforming judgment into grace and inviting confident praise.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: acknowledgment of sin and guilt (St. 1) → plea for Christ's transformative grace and love (St. 2) → petition for divine guidance through earthly trials (St. 3) → assurance of salvation at death (St. 4)
Themes
Incarnation God's presence with us Christological affirmation Praise and adoration Emmanuel