Savior Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise
Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise
The hymn reflects Lutheran emphasis on God's protective care through the night and the peace that comes from trust in divine blessing, echoing the Aaronic blessing. It embodies the Lutheran understanding of evening as a time to commend oneself to God's safekeeping and to acknowledge human dependence on divine grace.
History & Background
Written by John Ellerton in 1870 for evening worship services, this hymn became one of the most beloved English evening hymns. It was first published in "Hymns, Ancient and Modern" and has been widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals since the 19th century.
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 184
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 567
- The Hymnal 1982 — 345
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 262
- Lutheran Service Book — 917
- Lutheran Worship — 221
- New Century Hymnal — 89
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 47
- United Methodist Hymnal — 664
Bulletin Note
Written by John Ellerton in 1870, this evening hymn draws on the Aaronic blessing and the Lutheran tradition of commending oneself to God's safekeeping at day's end, expressing the grace that guards us through all darkness.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms our awareness of human frailty (Law) into confident surrender to Christ's eternal watchfulness (Gospel), making it a natural companion to any sermon on God's protective providence or the comfort of the cross.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Trinitarian invocation moving from individual divine attributes (mercy, redemption, comfort) to unified corporate worship, culminating in doxological affirmation of eternal divine constancy
Themes
Evening benediction Divine protection Blessing and peace Close of day Trust in God's care