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Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above

Sing praise to God who reigns above

The hymn's theology is doxological throughout, grounding praise in the character of God as Creator, sustainer, and redeemer. The first stanza's triple address — God of power, love, salvation — reflects the Reformation insistence that the God of creation is the God of redemption. The third stanza's image of God as 'a mother's tender hand' is a rare use of maternal divine imagery in the Reformation tradition, drawing on Isaiah 66:13 and combining it with the pastoral image of God leading 'his chosen band.'

History & Background

Johann Jacob Schütz (1640-1690) wrote this text in German ('Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut') in 1675, and Frances Elizabeth Cox (1812-1897) produced the standard English translation, published in her 'Sacred Hymns from the German' (1864). The text is set to the tune MIT FREUDEN ZART (Bohemian Brethren, 1566), one of the great tunes of the Reformation era that also appears in ELW and other Lutheran hymnals with different texts. Schütz was a German Reformed lawyer and hymnographer associated with Philipp Jakob Spener's pietist movement, and this hymn reflects pietist themes: the personal experience of God's healing grace, the watchful care of the divine shepherd, and the unceasing praise that flows from such experience. The tune MIT FREUDEN ZART comes from the Bohemian Brethren tradition — a pre-Reformation reform movement — and its use across Lutheran, Reformed, and ecumenical contexts exemplifies the shared tune heritage of the German Reformation.

Johann J. Schutz (b. Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, 1640; Scripture References d. Frankfurt-am-Main, 1690) wrote the original German text in st. 1 = Ps. 146:6-10 nine stanzas, which began, “Sei Lob und Ehr’ dem hochsten Gut.” st. 2 = Ps. 121 The text was published in his Chnstliches Gedenckbuchlein (1675) Ps. 91 with the heading “Hymn of Thanksgiving” and with a reference to Deuteronomy 32:3: “I will proclaim the name of the Lord; O praise the greatness of our God!” Trained at Tubingen, Schutz practiced law in Frankfurt his entire professional life. He was a close friend of Philipp Jakob Spener, the major force in the Pietist movement in Germany. The Pietists criticized the formalism of the Lutheran Church, stressed conversion and personal piety, and became famous for their prayer meetings and orphanages. Schutz was among the Pietists who left the Lutheran Church in 1686 to join the Moravians. His hymn texts were published in Chnstliche Gedenckbuchlein (1675) and Chnstliche Levensregeln (1677), but only his “Sing Praise to God” is found today in English-language hymnals. The translation by Francis Elizabeth Cox (b. Oxford, England, 1812; d. Headington, England, 1897) was published in Orby Shipley’s Lyra Eucharistica and in Cox’s Hymns from the German (both 1864). Cox wrote a number of original hymns, but few of these have survived; instead she is known for her translations of German hymns into English. She translated about eighty texts, many of which were published in her 1864 collection. Her choice of hymns was often determined by her friend, Baron Bunsen, the Prussian ambassador to England. Cox and Catherine Winkworth are regarded as the best translators of German chorales into English. Stanzas 1-4 in the Psalter Hymnal are derived from Cox’s translation of the original stanzas 1,3,4, and 8. The text is an expansion in hymn form of the Old Testament theme found in the psalms: “God is great, and God is good! ” As we sing, we affirm God’s power in creation, his love in redemption, his mercy toward his people, and the comfort he gives to those in grief. He is truly God, steadfast in mercy and abounding in love. For all these blessings we offer “to God all praise and glory! ”

Hymnal Appearances

  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 871
  • Glory to God — 645
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 541
  • Lift Up Your Hearts — 528
  • Psalter Hymnal — 465

Liturgical Use

As a hymn of thanksgiving and praise for God’s providential care, especially for deliver­ ance, comfort, and peace of mind (the “distress” in st. 3 could be seen as personal or corporate, local or national); funerals.

Bulletin Note

Text by Johann Jacob Schütz (1640-1690), 1675. English translation by Frances Cox (1812-1897), 1864. Tune: MIT FREUDEN ZART, Bohemian Brethren, 1566.

Preaching Connection

'Sing praise to God who reigns above' — the hymn begins where theology should end, with pure praise of the one whose power, love, and salvation are the grounds of everything else.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Themes

praise Creator divine power love salvation maternal imagery of God doxology

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