You Will I Love My Strength
You will I love, my strength, my tower
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran personal piety emphasizing the believer's intimate relationship with Christ as both strength and refuge. It reflects the Lutheran understanding of justification through faith expressed in devoted love and commitment to Christ.
History & Background
Martin Behm composed this German hymn in 1602 as a personal expression of devotion to Christ. It appeared in German hymnals throughout the 17th century and was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in her influential 1858 collection.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 666
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 502
- Lutheran Service Book — 694
- Lutheran Worship — 375
- Trinity Hymnal — 760
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 399
Translation
Bulletin Note
Martin Behm (1602) crafted this hymn from the heart of Lutheran piety, expressing the believer's intimate bond with Christ. The sturdy ST. CATHERINE tune has carried this text through centuries of worship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the Law's demand for perfect love into the Gospel's proclamation of Christ as the strength by which faith itself becomes possible.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From the proclamation of Christ's boundless love (stanza 1), through the believer's total consecration and response (stanza 2), to the sufficiency of Christ for all conditions of life (stanza 3), and finally to faith's perseverance through suffering and earthly loss (stanza 4). The arc moves from gift received to gift lived out in all circumstances.
Themes
Love of Christ Personal devotion Trust in God Salvation Commitment to faith