What Our Father Does is Well
What our Father does is well
What Our Father Does is Well is a hymn text by Samuel Rodigast (1675) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by August Crull. Found in lw 319, tlh 571. Sung to ES IST DAS HEIL.
The hymn exemplifies Lutheran theology of God's sovereignty and hidden providence, teaching believers to trust God's governance even when circumstances appear contrary to divine goodness. It connects to the Reformation emphasis on faith's perseverance through affliction rather than prosperity theology.
History & Background
Samuel Rodigast wrote this German hymn 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' in 1675 during a time of personal suffering and plague. August Crull's English translation appeared in 1923 and became the standard version in Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 319
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 571
Translation
Bulletin Note
Samuel Rodigast, 1675. Written during persecution, this hymn embodies Lutheran faith in God's sovereignty amid affliction—not prosperity, but the cross-centered trust that divine providence transcends human understanding.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens the Law-Gospel proclamation by moving beyond the Law's condemnation of suffering as divine disfavor, instead anchoring believers in the Gospel's consolation that God's hidden providence is inherently good and trustworthy.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law's condemnation → Gospel's grace → Christ's redemption → Faith's assurance
Background Research
TLH 571. Benjamin Schmolck (1720), opening on the thought that whatever God does is well done (Lutheran Chorale Book). Not Rodigast's "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" (TLH 521), though it echoes it. It is a hymn of trust in providence when harvests fail and provisions are short: hardship as fatherly care, ending in praise. TLH files it for harvest and thanksgiving. Henry W. Baker's English (Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861) is a partial translation in a changed metre, a free paraphrase. The Free Lutheran Chorale-Book sets it to Ebeling's VOLLER WUNDER. German source: Gesangbuch der Evangelischen Kirche (1908), no. 501. See r1041 for Schmolck.
Overview
A hymn for a poor harvest: Henry Baker's free English version of a hymn by Benjamin Schmolck. Its German title is the same as Rodigast's 'Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right' (TLH 521), but it is a different hymn. Each stanza opens 'What our Father does is well.' Even when the harvest fails, we rest in his love and look to better things (st. 1). Shall we rebel if he withholds? He himself is our treasure (st. 2). He has called us sons; can we murmur at his rod? (st. 3). In a barren Canaan, God can still save and feed (st. 4). Doxology (st. 5).
Central theme: Trust in the Father's goodness when the harvest fails, because God himself is the believer's lasting treasure
Structure
Five six-line 7.7.7.7.7.7 stanzas. St. 1-4 open with the refrain line 'What our Father does is well'; st. 5 is a doxology. Scarcity (1); withheld blessing (2); the rod (3); barren Canaan (4); praise (5).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'want'; 'the wilful heart rebel'; 'His rod'; 'barren Canaan' (1-4). Gospel: 'we rest upon His love'; 'Himself to be / All our store'; 'called us sons of God'; 'God can save us' (1-4).
Confessional Connections
Hab 3:17-18 (TLH's text): 'Though the fig tree should not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the LORD.' This is the hymn's core. St. 2: 'Is He not Himself to be / All our store eternally?' God himself is the highest good (Ps 73:25-26; LC First Commandment: 'to have a god is… to trust and believe Him with our whole heart'). St. 3: 'He has called us sons of God; / Can we murmur at His rod?' Hardship is a Father's discipline, not a judge's wrath (Heb 12:5-11; the theology of the cross). The hymn warns against the murmuring of Israel in the wilderness (Num 14:2; 1 Cor 10:10). SC Fourth Petition: God gives daily bread 'even without our prayer'; we pray to receive it with thanks, and to trust him when it is scarce.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Harvest (especially a poor harvest); times of drought or want; Thanksgiving Day; cross and comfort.
Historical Notes
Schmolck (1672-1737), pastor at Schweidnitz, Silesia. TLH dates his text 1720 and prints a cento. Baker's English (Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861) is a free paraphrase rather than a close translation.
About the Tune
RATISBON (Sächsisches Choralbuch, Leipzig, 1815; as named in TLH).
Scripture References
Hab 3:17-18 Rom 8:28 Col 3:1-2 Job 1:21 Ps 73:25-26 Lam 3:24 1 John 3:1 Heb 12:5-11 Num 14:2 Exod 3:8 Phil 4:11-13 Ps 33:18-19 Matt 6:31-33
Stanza by Stanza
What our Father does is good: his children tell this blessed truth! Even if he sends want instead of plenty and the harvest is small, we still rest on his love and look for better things above.
'Though the fig tree should not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the LORD' (Hab 3:17-18). 'All things work together for good' (Rom 8:28). 'Seek the things that are above' (Col 3:1).
- Scripture
- Hab 3:17-18, Rom 8:28, Col 3:1-2
- Imagery & language
- Father does well; want; scant harvest; rest in love; things above.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: scarcity. Gospel: resting in the Father's love.
- Connection to previous
- Want and plenty.
What our Father does is good. Should the willful heart rebel if he holds back a blessing in the field or in the flock? Is he himself not to be our whole treasure forever?
'The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD' (Job 1:21). 'Whom have I in heaven but you?… God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever' (Ps 73:25-26). 'The LORD is my portion' (Lam 3:24).
- Scripture
- Job 1:21, Ps 73:25-26, Lam 3:24
- Imagery & language
- Wilful heart; blessing withheld; God himself our store.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: rebellion. Gospel: God as our portion.
- Connection to previous
- God our store.
What our Father does is good. Even if he brings sadness to hill and valley, our praise still rises for the strength his Word supplies. He has called us children of God; can we grumble at his rod?
'See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God' (1 John 3:1). 'The Lord disciplines the one he loves' (Heb 12:6). 'Nor grumble, as some of them did' (1 Cor 10:10).
- Scripture
- 1 John 3:1, Heb 12:5-11, 1 Cor 10:10
- Imagery & language
- Sadden hill and dell; strength of the Word; sons; rod.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: the rod. Gospel: sonship.
- Connection to previous
- Sons and the rod.
What our Father does is good; may this thought live in us! Though no milk or honey flows in our barren Canaan now, God can save us in our need; God can bless us; God can feed us.
'A land flowing with milk and honey' (Exod 3:8). 'I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content' (Phil 4:11). 'To keep them alive in famine' (Ps 33:19).
- Scripture
- Exod 3:8, Phil 4:11-13, Ps 33:18-19, Matt 6:31-33
- Imagery & language
- No milk nor honey; barren Canaan; God can save, bless, feed.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: barrenness. Gospel: God's power to save.
- Connection to previous
- Barren Canaan.
So we raise hymns of glory and songs of praise to him: to the Father, the Son and the Spirit, three in one, be honor, might and glory now and forever.
'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever' (Rev 5:13).
- Scripture
- Rev 5:13, Matt 28:19
- Imagery & language
- Hymns of glory; Trinity; eternity.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Doxology.
Themes
Divine providence Trust in God Affliction and consolation Acceptance of God's will