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Thy Way Not Mine O Lord

Thy way, not mine, O Lord

Thy Way Not Mine O Lord is a hymn text by Horatius Bonar (1857) in C.M. meter. Found in lw 380, th 564, tlh 532. Sung to JUST AS I AM.

The hymn exemplifies Lutheran piety regarding divine providence and the surrender of human will to God's sovereign purposes, reflecting the Reformation's emphasis on trust rather than human merit. It articulates the Christian response to suffering and uncertainty through faith in God's wisdom and goodness.

History & Background

Written by Scottish Free Church minister Horatius Bonar in 1857 as a hymn of submission and trust. Published in his collection 'Hymns of Faith and Hope' and became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals through the 20th century.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Lutheran Worship — 380
  • Trinity Hymnal — 564
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 532

Bulletin Note

Written by Scottish hymn-poet Horatius Bonar in 1857, this C.M. hymn expresses the Reformation's distinctive piety: not earning God's favor through our works, but yielding ourselves to His providential care with joyful confidence.

Preaching Connection

This hymn transforms the Law's demand to deny self-will into Gospel freedom by anchoring surrender not in duty but in trust in God's merciful wisdom revealed through Christ.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From unconditional acceptance through Christ's blood, to the soul's present condition of sin and struggle, culminating in the assurance of divine reception and cleansing

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

TLH 532. Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, 1st series (1857): seven 4-line stanzas headed "Thy way, not mine [ours], O Lord", classed under Resignation (Julian via Hymnary). Variants: "Thy way, not ours" and "Father, Thy way, not mine"; a 3-stanza American adaptation in Church Pastorals (1864). Julian says it is used widely across the English-speaking world. Tunes: JEWETT (Weber; cf. r1041, Schmolck's "My Jesus, as Thou wilt", a twin text on surrender), IBSTONE. The "cento" in TLH means some of the seven stanzas are cut. Index Bonar death-year error (1899) noted elsewhere.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

Horatius Bonar's hymn of surrender (compare TLH 378). Your way, not mine, however dark; choose my path — 'I dare not choose my lot; / I would not if I might' (st. 1); choose my friends, sickness or health, cares, poverty or wealth; 'Not mine, not mine, the choice… Be Thou my Guide, my Strength, / My Wisdom, and my All' (st. 2).

Central theme: Entrusting every choice of life — friends, health, wealth — to God's will rather than one's own

Structure

Two eight-line stanzas (6.6.6.6 D). Thy way (1) — Thy choice in all things (2).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel/trust: God as Guide, Strength, Wisdom, All. Darkness, sickness, poverty acknowledged.

Confessional Connections

Ps 25:5 (TLH's text): 'Lead me in your truth and teach me.' The Third Petition in personal form (SC: God's will is done 'when he strengthens and keeps us firm in his Word and faith'). 'I dare not choose my lot' — 'it is not in man who walks to direct his steps' (Jer 10:23). Health and sickness, wealth and poverty received from God's hand (SC First Article; Phil 4:11-12). 'My Wisdom… my All' (1 Cor 1:30: Christ 'became to us wisdom… righteousness… sanctification… redemption').

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Trust; affliction; New Year; vocation decisions.

Historical Notes

Bonar (1808-1889) published it in Hymns of Faith and Hope (1857), headed 'Thy way, not mine.'

About the Tune

ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL (Musikalisches Gesangbuch, Leipzig, 1736, adapted).

Scripture References

Ps 25:4-5 Ps 31:15 Prov 16:9 Jer 10:23 Ps 16:5 Matt 26:39 Phil 4:11-12 Prov 30:8-9 Ps 73:24-26 1 Cor 1:30

Stanza by Stanza

1 Thy way, not mine, O Lord,…

Your way, not mine, Lord, however dark it may be. Lead me by your own hand; choose the path for me. I dare not choose my lot; I would not even if I could. Choose for me, my God; then I will walk rightly.

'Make me to know your ways… lead me in your truth' (Ps 25:4-5). 'The way of man is not in himself' (Jer 10:23). 'You hold my lot' (Ps 16:5).

Scripture
Ps 25:4-5, Jer 10:23, Ps 16:5, Matt 26:39
Imagery & language
Thy way; dark; Thine own hand; I dare not choose.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — God chooses well.
Connection to previous
Thy way.
Third Petition surrender guidance
2 Choose Thou for me my friends,…

Choose my friends for me, my sickness or my health; choose my cares, my poverty or wealth. Not mine, not mine the choice, in things great or small; be my Guide, my Strength, my Wisdom and my All.

'Give me neither poverty nor riches' (Prov 30:8). 'I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content' (Phil 4:11). 'Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God' (1 Cor 1:30).

Scripture
Prov 30:8-9, Phil 4:11-12, Ps 73:24-26, 1 Cor 1:30
Imagery & language
Friends; sickness or health; poverty or wealth; Guide, Strength, Wisdom, All.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — Christ our all.
Connection to previous
Not mine the choice.
contentment providence trust

Themes

Submission to God's will Trust in divine providence Acceptance of suffering Christian resignation

Look Further