Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing
Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing
Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in 8.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW21 827, CW93 443, elw 719, gtg 299. Sung to FROHLICH SOLL MEIN HERZE SPRINGEN.
The hymn embodies Lutheran theology's emphasis on justification by faith, expressing the believer's joyful confidence in God's protective care and salvation. It reflects the Lutheran understanding of how Gospel grace produces genuine Christian gladness and trust despite life's troubles.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this German hymn in the early 17th century as part of Lutheran devotional poetry. Catherine Winkworth's 1863 English translation became the standard rendering for English-speaking Lutheran churches.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 827
- Christian Worship — 443
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 719
- Glory to God — 299
- Lutheran Service Book — 737
- Lutheran Worship — 424
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 535
Translation
Bulletin Note
Martin Behm (1610) crafted this hymn as an expression of Lutheran theology's central claim: the Gospel of Christ's salvation awakens genuine Christian gladness and unshakeable trust in God's providence.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies justification by faith as lived experience—showing how the Gospel's proclamation of God's saving grace produces the heart's spontaneous, obedient joy despite the Law's exposure of our trouble.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From proclamation of Christ's victory, through affirmation of resurrection life, to universal redemption, concluding with God's embracing grace transforming the believer's response to joyful praise
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 4 (4×)
- Epiphany 2 (3×)
- Trinity 1 (2×)
- Trinity 15 (1×)
- Trinity 21 (1×)
- Trinity 9 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Epiphany 2 (1×)
- Epiphany 6 (1×)
- Proper 8 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A cento from Paul Gerhardt's long hymn of thanksgiving 'Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund,' in John Kelly's translation, shaped by TLH into a hymn of comfort addressed to one's own heart. God is the heart's portion (st. 1) and treasure (st. 2), so despair is pointless (st. 3); his care in childhood (st. 4), gentle discipline and drowned sins (st. 5), and pity for silent grief (st. 6) are recalled. He records every tear (st. 7, Ps 56:8), never plans in vain (st. 8), so the heart can be still and trust (st. 9).
Central theme: Self-exhortation to cheerful trust in God, our portion, who forgives, disciplines gently and records every tear
Structure
Nine common-meter quatrains. Exhortation (1-3) — remembrance of God's past care (4-6) — tears noted (7) — God's wise plans (8) — stillness (9).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; sin appears only as forgiven ('in the sea doth drown,' 5), and discipline as gentle (5).
Confessional Connections
First Article: God 'defends me against all danger, and guards and protects me from all evil… all this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy' (SC) — st. 4. Forgiveness pictured as sins drowned in the sea (Mic 7:19; AC IV). Fatherly chastisement distinguished from punitive wrath (Ap XII.151-158).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
General; Thanksgiving; times of grief; Trinity season.
Historical Notes
Gerhardt's original (Praxis pietatis melica, 1653) is a long thanksgiving hymn; TLH uses a selection. Kelly (1833-1890) published translations of all of Gerhardt's hymns (1867).
About the Tune
ICH SINGE DIR (Harmonischer Liederschatz, Frankfurt, 1738).
Scripture References
Ps 56:8 Ps 73:26 Lam 3:24 Ps 103:2-5 Gen 15:1 1 Pet 5:7 Ps 71:5-6 Heb 12:5-11 Mic 7:19 Ps 38:9 Rom 8:28 Job 40:4 Ps 46:10 Ps 62:5-6
Stanza by Stanza
Rejoice and sing, my heart; keep a cheerful trust, for God, the source of everything, will remain your portion.
The singer addresses his own heart (cf. Ps 42:5; 103:1). 'Thy Portion' — Ps 73:26; Lam 3:24: 'The LORD is my portion.' God himself, not his gifts, is the inheritance.
- Scripture
- Ps 73:26, Lam 3:24, Ps 16:5, Ps 103:1
- Imagery & language
- Heart addressed; Portion.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God as portion.
- Connection to previous
- Portion.
He is your treasure and joy, your life, light and Lord, your counselor when doubts disturb you, your shield and great reward.
A litany of titles. 'I am your shield; your reward shall be very great' (Gen 15:1). 'Counselor' (Isa 9:6). 'Life… Light' (John 14:6; 8:12).
- Scripture
- Gen 15:1, Isa 9:6, John 8:12, Matt 6:21
- Imagery & language
- Treasure, Shield, Reward.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's sufficiency.
- Connection to previous
- Treasure.
Why spend your days in despair and your nights in restless thought? Cast your cares on your Creator; he makes your burdens light.
1 Pet 5:7: 'casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.' Matt 11:30: 'my burden is light.' A gentle rebuke of anxious brooding.
- Scripture
- 1 Pet 5:7, Ps 55:22, Matt 11:28-30, Ps 4:8
- Imagery & language
- Day and night; cast care.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — cares cast.
- Connection to previous
- Cast care.
Didn't his love, truth and power watch over you as a child? Hasn't he often turned dreaded evils away in threatening hours?
Remembering God's past faithfulness as grounds for present trust (Ps 71:5-6, 17; Ps 77:11). The First Article explanation: God 'defends me against all danger.'
- Scripture
- Ps 71:5-6, Ps 77:11, Ps 22:9-10, Ps 121:7
- Imagery & language
- Childhood; averted ills.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — past care remembered.
- Connection to previous
- Remembering.
He always rebukes patiently; his rod falls gently; and he casts all your sins aside and drowns them in the sea.
Discipline is gentle and fatherly (Heb 12:5-11; Ps 103:9-10). Forgiveness: 'You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea' (Mic 7:19). Sins drowned — the baptismal image of the Flood and Red Sea (SC IV, Flood Prayer).
- Scripture
- Heb 12:5-11, Ps 103:9-12, Mic 7:19, Isa 38:17
- Imagery & language
- Gentle rod; drowned sins.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — forgiveness and gentle discipline.
- Connection to previous
- Drowned sins.
When silent grief tears your heart, his pity sees your sorrow and provides what serves his glory and your relief.
Silent grief seen by God (Ps 38:9: 'my sighing is not hidden from you'). God's provision serves both his glory and our good — these are not in competition.
- Scripture
- Ps 38:9, Exod 3:7, Ps 34:18
- Imagery & language
- Silent woe; pity.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — compassion.
- Connection to previous
- Silent woe.
He knows how often a Christian weeps and why the tears fall; all these things are noted in the book his mercy keeps.
Ps 56:8 (TLH's text): 'You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?' No tear is lost or unrecorded. The 'book' is kept by mercy, not by a judge — the opposite of a record of debts.
- Scripture
- Ps 56:8, Rev 7:17, Isa 25:8
- Imagery & language
- Tears; book.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — tears remembered.
- Connection to previous
- Tears noted.
His wisdom never plans in vain, never wavers or errs; everything his counsel ordained makes a happy ending.
Rom 8:28; Isa 46:10. 'A happy ending' — not that all is pleasant, but that all is ordered toward the good end God intends (Gen 50:20).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:28, Isa 46:10, Gen 50:20, Rom 11:33
- Imagery & language
- Wise plans; happy ending.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's wise counsel.
- Connection to previous
- Wise plans.
So put your hand on your lips and trust his guiding love; then your peace will stand like a rock, here and in heaven.
Job 40:4: 'I lay my hand on my mouth' — the end of complaint before God's wisdom. Ps 46:10: 'Be still, and know that I am God.' Peace 'like a rock' (Ps 62:5-6).
- Scripture
- Job 40:4, Ps 46:10, Ps 62:5-6, Isa 26:3
- Imagery & language
- Hand on lips; rock.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — peace.
- Connection to previous
- Be still.
Themes
Joy in Christ Trust in God's protection Heart's rejoicing Faith's assurance God's faithfulness