Sweet Is the Work My God My King
Sweet is the work, my God, my King
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran theology's emphasis on joy in praising God's sovereignty and the proper ordering of Christian life around worship and obedience. It reflects the Reformation's recovery of robust congregational singing as central to faithful Christian practice.
History & Background
Isaac Watts wrote this hymn as a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 92 in his 1719 collection 'The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament.' It became one of his most enduring and widely-used hymns across Protestant denominations.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 889
- Glory to God — 196
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 542
- Lutheran Service Book — 903
- Lutheran Worship — 375
- Trinity Hymnal — 479
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 20
- Voices Together — 36
- With One Voice — 764
Bulletin Note
Isaac Watts (1674–1748), the 'father of English hymnody,' wrote this 1719 hymn to awaken robust congregational praise. It exemplifies the Reformation's recovery of singing as central to worship and witness.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Gospel's power to transform obedience from fearful burden into joyful response—a musical proclamation that grace, not law, is the true motive for Christian living.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From conviction of sin and burden (Law) to confidence in Christ's hearing and answering (Gospel) to assurance of complete provision (Gospel) to commitment in pilgrimage (Gospel)
Themes
Praise and worship God's majesty and kingship Obedience and service The Psalms