Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower
Thee will I love, my strength, my tower
Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in 8.8.8.8.8.8 meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in elw 714, lbw 502, lsb 694, lw 375. Sung to WAREHAM.
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran emphasis on faith expressing itself through love as the proper Christian response to God's grace. It connects personal devotion to God's protective strength, reflecting the comfort found in the promise of Christ's indwelling presence (John 14:23).
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this hymn in early 17th-century Germany as an expression of steadfast love toward God. Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in 1858, making it widely available to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 714
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 502
- Lutheran Service Book — 694
- Lutheran Worship — 375
- Trinity Hymnal — 673
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 399
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Martin Behm in 1610, this German Reformation hymn exemplifies Lutheran theology: faith trusting God's grace naturally expresses itself through love. The tower image echoes Psalm 61 and medieval fortress imagery of divine protection.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran principle that Gospel security (God's strength as our tower) awakens the Christian's grateful love as the fruit of faith, making it a powerful response to proclamation of unconditional grace.
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
Overview
Johann Scheffler, a Silesian physician raised Lutheran, became Roman Catholic in 1653 and wrote under the name Angelus Silesius. This hymn from his Heilige Seelenlust (1657) was nonetheless taken into Lutheran hymnals because its content is thoroughly biblical. It is a hymn of love for God and Christ: 'Thee will I love' as Strength, Tower, Hope and Joy (st. 1); as Life, Savior and Friend (st. 2); thanks to Jesus the Sun whose word healed the soul (st. 3); a prayer to be kept watchful (st. 4) and taught to love truly (st. 5); and love 'for Thine own sake' even in sadness (st. 6). Lutherans sing it knowing that our love is always a response to his (1 John 4:19).
Central theme: Wholehearted love for God in Christ, kindled by his healing Word and sustained by his grace
Structure
Six six-line stanzas (9.8.9.8.8.6). Love declared (1-2) — thanks (3) — prayer for watchfulness (4) and true love (5) — love for his own sake (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel: Christ the Redeemer, healing by his Word (2-3). The prayer for watchfulness (4) acknowledges straying.
Confessional Connections
Love for God fulfills the First Commandment, but only as a fruit of faith (AC XX.29-31; Ap IV.125-127). Healing comes through 'what Thy lips revealed' — the Word (AC V). 'Not for the hope of high reward' — since salvation is a gift, love is not a bargain (Ap IV). Teaching to love is the Spirit's work (Rom 5:5).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
General; Trinity season; confirmation; devotional use.
Historical Notes
Scheffler (1624-1677) wrote both mystical epigrams (Cherubinischer Wandersmann) and hymns. His conversion to Rome did not keep Lutherans from using this hymn.
About the Tune
ICH WILL DICH LIEBEN (Harmonischer Liederschatz, Frankfurt, 1738).
Scripture References
Ps 18:1-2 Ps 71:5 Deut 6:5 John 8:12 John 14:6 John 15:13-15 Ps 136 Mal 4:2 Ps 107:20 John 6:68 Matt 26:41 Ps 17:5 Heb 12:1 Mark 12:30 2 Cor 10:5 Hab 3:17-18 1 John 4:19
Stanza by Stanza
I will love you, my strength and tower; I will love you, my hope and joy; I will love you with all my power, with a passion time will never destroy. I will love you, divine Light, as long as I live.
Ps 18:1-2: 'I love you, O LORD, my strength… my rock… my stronghold.' Love 'with all my power' (Deut 6:5). The titles name what God is for us — strength, refuge, hope, joy, light — so love is a response to God's goodness, not a work to earn it.
- Scripture
- Ps 18:1-2, Deut 6:5, Ps 71:5, Ps 27:1
- Imagery & language
- Litany of titles; 'Thee will I love.'
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — love responding to God's goodness.
- Connection to previous
- Declaration.
I will love you, my life and Savior, my best and truest friend; I will love and praise you forever, for your kindness will never end; I will love you with all my heart; you are my Redeemer.
Christ as 'Life' (John 14:6), 'Savior,' 'best and truest Friend' (John 15:13-15) and 'Redeemer.' His 'kindness shall never end' (Ps 136). The reason for love: 'Thou my Redeemer art' — love flows from redemption (1 John 4:19).
- Scripture
- John 14:6, John 15:13-15, Ps 136, 1 John 4:19, Job 19:25
- Imagery & language
- Friend; Redeemer.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — love for the Redeemer.
- Connection to previous
- Christ.
I thank you, Jesus, Sun from heaven, whose radiance has brought me light; I thank you who have richly given everything that could make me glad and free; I thank you that my soul is healed by what your lips revealed.
Christ the Sun (Mal 4:2). 'Glad and free' — freedom in Christ (John 8:36). 'My soul is healed by what Thy lips revealed' — healing through the Word (Ps 107:20, 'He sent out his word and healed them'). Faith comes by hearing.
- Scripture
- Mal 4:2, John 8:12, John 8:36, Ps 107:20, John 6:68
- Imagery & language
- Sun; healing lips.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — healing by the Word.
- Connection to previous
- Thanks.
Keep me watchful and humble and let me stray no more; hold me up when my feet would stumble, and do not let me linger by the way. Fill my whole nature with your light, strong and bright Radiance!
Watchfulness (Matt 26:41) and humility. 'Suffer me no more to stray' — the prayer of one who has strayed. 'Uphold me' (Ps 17:5; Jude 24). 'Nor let me loiter' — perseverance in the race (Heb 12:1).
- Scripture
- Matt 26:41, Ps 17:5, Jude 24, Heb 12:1
- Imagery & language
- Watchful; stumbling; loitering.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — prayer for keeping.
- Connection to previous
- Keeping.
Teach me, Lord, to love you truly with soul and body, head and heart, and grant me grace to practice love's sacred art forever. Grant that my every thought may always be directed to you.
Love must be taught — it is the Spirit's gift (Rom 5:5; 1 Thess 4:9). 'Soul and body, head and heart' — Mark 12:30. 'Every thought… directed to Thee' (2 Cor 10:5). 'Grant me grace' — love is grace, not achievement.
- Scripture
- Rom 5:5, 1 Thess 4:9, Mark 12:30, 2 Cor 10:5
- Imagery & language
- Teaching love; every thought.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — love as gift.
- Connection to previous
- Teaching.
I will love you, my crown of gladness, my God and Lord, even in the darkest depths of sadness, not for the hope of great reward but for your own sake, divine Light, as long as I live.
Love 'amid the darkest depths of sadness' (Hab 3:17-18). 'Not for the hope of high reward — for Thine own sake' — love that is not mercenary. Since salvation is a gift, love is free from calculation (Ap IV: works are not done to merit). The refrain of st. 1 returns.
- Scripture
- Hab 3:17-18, Ps 73:25-26, 1 Cor 13:5, 1 John 4:19
- Imagery & language
- Crown; darkness; for his own sake.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — free love.
- Connection to previous
- For his sake.
Themes
Love of God Faithful devotion God's strength and protection Trust in divine providence