Send Now O Lord to Every Place
Send now, O Lord, to every place
The hymn expresses confidence in God's protective and empowering presence for Christian witness and missionary endeavor, reflecting Lutheran emphasis on the Holy Spirit's role in the proclamation of the Gospel. It combines practical concern for mission with deep theological trust in divine providence, characteristic of 19th-century Lutheran revival piety.
History & Background
Written by Swedish hymnodist Johan Olof Wallin in 1819 as part of his comprehensive Swedish hymnal. The hymn was translated into English by Charles Porterfield Krauth in 1868 and subsequently adopted into Lutheran hymnals including The Lutheran Hymnal.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 316
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 506
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Swedish hymn master Johan Olof Wallin in 1819, this Pentecost hymn expresses Lutheran trust in the Holy Spirit's role in proclaiming the Gospel, joining practical missionary concern with deep confidence in divine providence.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Gospel's power to overcome human weakness: it exposes our inability to evangelize by our own effort (Law) while anchoring confidence in God's promised presence and the Spirit's unstoppable work (Gospel).
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From the comfort of divine protection (stanzas 1-2) through the permanence of God's covenant (stanza 3) to trust in God's sovereignty amid life's changes (stanza 4)
Themes
Missionary work Holy Spirit empowerment Gospel proclamation Trust in God's promises Divine protection