The Law of God Is Good and Wise
The law of God is good and wise
The Law of God Is Good and Wise is a hymn text by Matthias Loy (1880) in C.M. meter. Found in CW21 637, CW93 287, ELH 492, elw 311. Sung to WAREHAM.
The hymn articulates the Lutheran doctrine that God's law, while revealing sin, is fundamentally good and serves to guide believers toward holiness and love of God. It reflects the Reformation recovery of the law as a gracious revelation of God's will for human flourishing rather than merely a condemning force.
History & Background
Written by Matthias Loy in 1880, this hymn appeared in German-American Lutheran hymnals as a meditation on the goodness of God's law. It has remained a standard teaching hymn in Lutheran worship for its clear exposition of the law's purpose and blessing.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 637
- Christian Worship — 287
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 492
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 311
- Lutheran Service Book — 579
- Lutheran Worship — 329
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 295
Bulletin Note
Composed by Matthias Loy in 1880, this hymn recovers the Reformation insight that God's law is a gracious revelation of divine will, not mere condemnation. It balances the law's diagnostic power with its role in Christian sanctification.
Preaching Connection
This hymn provides a pastoral corrective to both antinomianism and legalism, allowing the preacher to unfold how God's law simultaneously accuses, guides, and sanctifies—drawing the congregation toward grateful obedience rooted in the Gospel.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christ's compassionate presence amid human suffering and social chaos, calling the Church to incarnational witness and mercy
Background Research
Matthias Loy (1828–1915), born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He studied at the Lutheran seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and was later its Professor of Theology, then President of Capital University (1880). He edited the Lutheran Standard and was a leading confessional theologian of the Ohio Synod. He wrote 20 original hymns for the Ohio Synod's Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal (1880), where this is listed under 'Holy Scripture'. Several of his hymns were in the Synod's Collection of Hymns (3rd ed. 1858, 4th ed. 1863), which fits TLH's 1863 date, though the source did not name this hymn there. A Law hymn: the Law is good, but it shows sin and cannot save, and it drives us to Christ. It is a teaching hymn on the uses of the Law. From memory, not checked: Loy wrote a companion Gospel hymn, 'The Gospel shows the Father's grace' (TLH 297), and the pair together state Law and Gospel.
Sources: hymnary.org (Loy_M, citing Julian).
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Proper 25
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 18 (3×)
- Trinity 6 (3×)
- Easter 5 (2×)
- Trinity 13 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 25 (2×)
- Lent 3 (4×)
- Reformation (2×)
- Proper 18 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Matthias Loy, president of the Ohio Synod and of Capital University, wrote this as a companion to 'The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace' (TLH 297). Together they teach the Lutheran distinction of Law and Gospel. This hymn sets out what the Law is and does: it is good and wise, showing God's will and condemning transgression (st. 1); it reveals our sinful hearts so we seek deliverance (st. 2); it guides believers in works of love (st. 3); it curbs the wicked by its terror (st. 4); but since the Fall it condemns all and cannot justify (st. 5); so we flee to Jesus, saved by grace through faith alone (st. 6). It is a hymnic version of Formula of Concord Articles V and VI.
Central theme: The Law's goodness and threefold use, its inability to justify, and the flight to Christ
Structure
Six long-meter quatrains. Nature of the Law (1) — mirror (2) — guide for believers (3) — curb (4) — cannot justify (5) — flight to Christ (6). Stanzas 2-4 present the three uses of the Law, though in the order mirror, rule, curb.
Law & Gospel Shape
Almost entirely Law, carefully defined, ending in the Gospel (st. 6).
Confessional Connections
FC VI: the threefold use of the Law — curb (external discipline), mirror (knowledge of sin), rule/guide (for the regenerate). FC V: Law and Gospel distinguished. Ap IV: the Law always accuses and cannot justify. AC IV: justification by grace through faith alone (st. 6).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Catechesis; Lent; Trinity season; teaching on Law and Gospel (pair with TLH 297).
Historical Notes
Loy (1828-1915), editor of the Lutheran Standard, theologian of the Ohio Synod. Published 1863.
About the Tune
ERHALT UNS, HERR (Klug's Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg, 1543).
Scripture References
Rom 7:12 Ps 19:7-11 Mic 6:8 Rom 3:20 Rom 7:7 Gal 3:24 Ps 119:105 Eph 2:10 1 Tim 1:8-10 Rom 13:3-4 Rom 3:23 Gal 3:10-11 Rom 8:3 Gal 3:13 Heb 6:18 Eph 2:8-9
Stanza by Stanza
God's Law is good and wise; it sets his will before our eyes, shows us the way of righteousness, and condemns us to death when we transgress.
'The law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good' (Rom 7:12; Ps 19:7-11). The fault is never in the Law but in us. The Law 'sets His will before our eyes' — it is God's eternal, unchanging will (FC VI.15). It shows the 'way of righteousness' but also 'dooms to death' the transgressor (Rom 6:23; Gal 3:10). Both sides are stated at once.
- Scripture
- Rom 7:12, Ps 19:7-11, Mic 6:8, Rom 6:23, Gal 3:10
- Imagery & language
- Goodness; eyes; doom.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — God's will and its sanction.
- Connection to previous
- Definition.
Its holy light gives us knowledge of our sinful hearts, so that we may see our lost condition and seek deliverance before it is too late.
The mirror (second, or theological, use): 'through the law comes knowledge of sin' (Rom 3:20; 7:7). The Law exposes not only deeds but 'sinful hearts.' Its purpose here is evangelical: 'that we may… seek deliverance' — the Law drives to Christ (Gal 3:24). 'Ere too late' adds urgency (2 Cor 6:2).
- Scripture
- Rom 3:20, Rom 7:7, Gal 3:24, Jer 17:9, 2 Cor 6:2
- Imagery & language
- Light revealing the heart.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — mirror of sin, driving to deliverance.
- Connection to previous
- The mirror.
To those who have found help in Christ and want to abound in works of love, it shows which deeds please him and should be done as good and right.
The third use: the Law as guide for the regenerate (FC VI). Notice the condition — 'to those who help in Christ have found.' Believers 'would in works of love abound' already, by the Spirit; the Law shows them 'what deeds are His delight' rather than leaving them to invent self-chosen works (Eph 2:10; Ps 119:105). FC VI insists the regenerate still need the Law because the old Adam remains and because self-chosen holiness is a danger.
- Scripture
- Eph 2:10, Ps 119:105, Rom 12:2, 1 John 5:3, Gal 5:13-14
- Imagery & language
- Delight; deeds.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — guide for believers.
- Connection to previous
- The rule.
When people despise the offered help and willfully remain in sin, its terror sounds in their ears and keeps their wickedness within bounds.
The first (political or civil) use: the Law as curb, restraining outward wickedness through fear of punishment (1 Tim 1:8-10; Rom 13:3-4). It cannot change the heart, but it preserves order in the world. God uses the Law in this way through conscience, family and government (two kingdoms).
- Scripture
- 1 Tim 1:8-10, Rom 13:3-4, Rom 2:14-15, Gal 3:19
- Imagery & language
- Terror; bounds.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — curb on the unbelieving.
- Connection to previous
- The curb.
The Law is good; but since the Fall its holiness condemns us all; it condemns us to die for our sin and has no power to justify.
The crucial limit: the Law 'has no power to justify' (Gal 2:16; 3:11; Rom 3:20, 28). 'Since the Fall' — the Law did not change, we did (Rom 8:3, 'what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do'). 'Condemns us all' (Rom 3:23). This guards against every form of works-righteousness: the Law can show, curb, and guide, but it can never save. Ap IV: the Law always accuses.
- Scripture
- Gal 2:16, Gal 3:10-11, Rom 3:20, 23, 28, Rom 8:3, Rom 5:12
- Imagery & language
- Good yet condemning.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — cannot justify.
- Connection to previous
- The Law's limit.
We flee to Jesus for refuge, who has freed us from the curse, and humbly worship at his throne, saved by his grace through faith alone.
The Gospel ending. 'Refuge' (Heb 6:18). Christ 'redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us' (Gal 3:13). 'Saved by His grace through faith alone' — Eph 2:8-9 and the sola fide of AC IV. The whole teaching about the Law serves this end: to drive sinners to Christ.
- Scripture
- Heb 6:18, Gal 3:13, Eph 2:8-9, Rom 3:24-28, Rom 10:4
- Imagery & language
- Refuge; throne.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — grace through faith alone.
- Connection to previous
- Conclusion.
Themes
God's law Divine wisdom Obedience Sanctification Christian living