The Law of God Is Good and Wise
The law of God is good and wise
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
- 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
Themes
God's law Divine wisdom Obedience Sanctification Christian living