Praise We the Lord This Day
Praise we the Lord this day
Praise We the Lord This Day is a hymn text by Heinrich Held (1695) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in h82 267, tlh 274. Sung to OLIVET.
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)
Overview
An anonymous English hymn for the Annunciation (March 25). Praise for the day long foretold (st. 1): the prophet's sign of a virgin of David's line bearing the promised Seed (st. 2). Don't ask how — worship like Mary, whom God's majesty overshadowed (st. 3); she bowed meekly to the word (st. 4) and her name is blessed in the Church (st. 5); praise to Jesus, the Virgin's Son, one with the Father and Spirit (st. 6).
Central theme: The Annunciation: the promised virgin birth fulfilled, received by Mary's humble faith, adored rather than explained
Structure
Six short-meter quatrains. Promise (1) — the sign (2) — mystery adored (3) — Mary's submission (4) — her blessedness (5) — doxology (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout: promise, sign, 'wondrous mercy,' 'the incarnate Savior's birth.'
Confessional Connections
TLH gives no Scripture reference; Luke 1:26-38 is the Annunciation. St. 3, 'Ask not how this should be, / But worship and adore' — the personal union is a mystery received in faith, not explained by reason (FC VIII.33ff). Mary's 'Let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38) is the model of faith (Ap XXI.27 honors her). St. 5, 'Blessed shall be her name' — 'all generations will call me blessed' (Luke 1:48); Lutherans honor Mary as Theotokos and model believer, not as mediatrix (FC VIII.24; SA II.II.25-28). St. 6: Jesus, 'the Virgin's Son,' one God with Father and Spirit (AC I, III).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Annunciation of Our Lord (March 25); Advent.
Historical Notes
Anonymous; TLH dates it 1846. Some sources point to an English Tractarian collection (verify).
About the Tune
SWABIA (Johann M. Spiess, 1745).
Scripture References
Luke 1:26-38 Gen 3:15 Isa 7:14 Matt 1:22-23 Rom 1:3 Luke 1:34-35 Luke 1:38 Luke 1:48 Luke 1:42 John 1:14 John 10:30
Stanza by Stanza
Let us praise the Lord today, this day so long foretold, whose promise shone with encouraging light on the saints who waited long ago.
'He shall bruise your head' (Gen 3:15) — the first promise. The waiting faithful of the Old Testament (Heb 11:13; Luke 2:25).
- Scripture
- Gen 3:15, Heb 11:13, Luke 2:25
- Imagery & language
- Foretold day; promise; waiting saints.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — promise fulfilled.
- Connection to previous
- Foretold.
The prophet gave the sign for faithful people to read: a virgin of David's line will bear the promised Seed.
'The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son' (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:22-23). 'Descended from David according to the flesh' (Rom 1:3).
- Scripture
- Isa 7:14, Matt 1:22-23, Rom 1:3, Gal 3:16
- Imagery & language
- Prophet; sign; virgin; David's line; Seed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the sign given.
- Connection to previous
- The sign.
Do not ask how this could be, but worship and adore like her whom God's own majesty came down to overshadow.
'How will this be?… The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you' (Luke 1:34-35). FC VIII: the incarnation is a mystery to be believed.
- Scripture
- Luke 1:34-35, 1 Tim 3:16
- Imagery & language
- Ask not how; adore; overshadowed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — mystery received.
- Connection to previous
- Ask not how.
She meekly bowed her head to hear the gracious word: Mary, the pure and humble maiden, favored by the Lord.
'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' (Luke 1:28). 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38).
- Scripture
- Luke 1:28, Luke 1:38
- Imagery & language
- Meekly bowed; gracious word; favored.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — grace received in faith.
- Connection to previous
- Mary bows.
Her name will be blessed in the whole Church on earth, through whom that wonderful mercy came — the birth of the incarnate Savior.
'From now on all generations will call me blessed' (Luke 1:48). 'Blessed are you among women' (Luke 1:42). Mary honored for God's work in her (Ap XXI.27).
- Scripture
- Luke 1:48, Luke 1:42, Gal 4:4
- Imagery & language
- Blessed name; wondrous mercy; incarnate Savior.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — mercy through Mary's Son.
- Connection to previous
- Blessed.
Jesus, the Virgin's Son, we praise and adore you, who are one with God the Father and the Spirit forever. Amen.
'The Word became flesh' (John 1:14). 'I and the Father are one' (John 10:30).
- Scripture
- John 1:14, John 10:30, Matt 28:19
- Imagery & language
- Virgin's Son; one with Father and Spirit.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise.
- Connection to previous
- Doxology.
Themes
Incarnation God's presence with us Christological affirmation Praise and adoration Emmanuel