The Day You Gave Us Lord is Ended
The day you gave us, Lord, is ended
The hymn reflects Lutheran confidence in God's providential care and eternal presence, affirming that rest and sleep are gifts of a gracious God rather than interruptions to service. It embodies the Lutheran understanding of daily living as lived coram Deo (before the face of God) with assurance of protection and peace.
History & Background
Written by John Ellerton in 1870 for the hymn collection 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,' this evening hymn celebrates God's constant care as day transitions to night. It became one of the most beloved English evening hymns and has been widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals since the 20th century.
John Ellerton (b. London, England, 1826; d. Torquay, Devonshire, Scripture References England, 1893) wrote this evening hymn (and 319) in 1870 for st 3 = Ps. 113:3 A Liturgy for Missionary Meetings. The text’s dominant theme is the growing worldwide fellowship of the Christian church and its unbroken, unceasing offering of praise and prayer to God. Even though Victoria may have chosen the hymn to symbolize the British Empire, stanza 4 wisely reminds us that earthly kingdoms pass away—only the kingdom of God stands and grows forever. Ellerton borrowed the hymn’s first line from an anonymous text in Church Poetry (1843). He then revised his text for the hymn’s publication in the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge’s Church Hymns (1871), of which he was coeditor. Possibly prompted by the suitability of the worldwide church image as a symbol for the British Empire “on which the sun never sets,” Queen Victoria chose this hymn to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Victoria’s use of the hymn assured its populari ty in the English-speaking world. 465 THE PSALMS, BIBLE SONGS, AND HYMNS Educated at King William’s College on the Isle of Man and at Trinity College, Cambridge, England, Ellerton was ordained in the Church of England in 1851. He served six parishes, spending the longest time in Crewe Green (1860-1872), a church of steelworkers and farmers. Ellerton wrote and translated about eighty hymns, many of which are still sung today. He helped to compile Church Hymns and wrote its handbook, Notes and Illustrations to Church Hymns (1882). Some of his other hymn texts were published in The London Mission Hymn Book (1884).
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 569
- Glory to God — 673
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 274
- Lutheran Service Book — 886
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 77
- Lutheran Worship — 480
- New Century Hymnal — erasure
- Psalter Hymnal — 318
- United Methodist Hymnal — 690
- Voices Together — 839
- With One Voice — 696
Liturgical Use
An evening hymn at the close of worship (st. 1 is only for evening use); a missionary hymn; at festivals of the church: Pentecost, worldwide communion, All Saints/Reformation Day.
Bulletin Note
Written by John Ellerton in 1870, this hymn follows the sun's journey globally, sung at evensong in cathedrals worldwide. It expresses the Reformation's radical comfort: our worth rests in God's grace, not our productivity.
Preaching Connection
This hymn proclaims the Gospel's antidote to works-righteousness: our ceasing from labor itself becomes an act of faith, trusting God's eternal vigilance rather than our own restless striving.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From personal evening rest in God's providence to cosmic affirmation of God's eternal kingdom, moving from individual conscience comfort to eschatological confidence
Themes
God's eternal presence Divine protection Evening prayer and rest God's sovereignty over time Trust in providence