Psalm 37:5 - Sunday’s hymn of the day Entrust Your Days and Burdens, (LSB 754). In the midst of our busy and hurried lives it is easy to lose sight that it is the Lord who orders our days and directs our path. Thus the hymn writer will remind us, “For He who guides the tempests along their thunderous ways will find for you a pathway and guide you all your days.” Place you confidence in Him. He can be trusted at His word. We can rely on Him as we recall what He has done.
This hymn, by the great Lutheran pastor and hymn-writer Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), speaks of the absolute trust and confidence we have in God because of all He has done for us. The tune (SUFFICIENTIA) is by Stephen R. Johnson, a Lutheran church musician living in Mahopac, NY.
Stanza One:
Entrust your days and burdens To God’s most loving hand; He cares for you while ruling The sky, the sea, the land. For He who guides the tempests Along their thunderous ways Will find for you a pathway And guide you all your days.
God is the Creator of all, from the tiniest atom to the largest galaxy and beyond. That same God cares for you, so what is there to fear? As the Psalmist says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:1-2). God will guide us through the storms of this life unto our eternal home with Him.
Stanza Two:
Rely on God your Savior And find your life secure. Make His work your foundation That your work may endure. No anxious thought, no worry, No self-tormenting care Can win your Father’s favor; His heart is moved by prayer.
Christ is your Redeemer, so with Paul you can “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:4-7). Christ is the one mediator with the Father, interceding on our behalf and for our benefit. Christ is our brother and God is our Father, so we can ask Him with all boldness and confidence as dear children ask their dear father.
Stanza Three:
Take heart, have hope, my spirit, And do not be dismayed; God helps in every trial And makes you unafraid. Await His time with patience Through darkest hours of night Until the sun you hoped for Delights your eager sight.
Christians live as people of hope, knowing that the sure and certain promises of Christ are true. Though we endure the troubles of this world, we know that Christ has defeated the darkness and the Light of the World is coming soon. Confident in this, we wait with patience for Christ’s return on the Last Day.
Stanza Four:
Leave all to His direction; His wisdom rules for you In ways to rouse your wonder At all His love can do. Soon He, His promise keeping, With wonderworking powers Will banish from your spirit What gave you troubled hours.
St. Peter writes, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7). We need not worry, for Christ fights for us, keeping at bay the powers of evil, no matter how bleak things look. He invites us to give Him our burdens and take His yoke upon us, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Stanza Five:
O blessed heir of heaven You’ll hear the song resound Of endless jubilation When you with life are crowned. In your right hand your maker Will place the victor’s palm, And you will thank Him gladly With heaven’s joyful psalm.
Oh, the wonder and glories of heaven! This is what we long for: to be with the Lord in that place where there will be no sorrow or tears and where Christ will be our light forevermore.
Stanza Six:
Our hands and feet, Lord, strengthen; With joy our spirits bless Until we see the ending Of all our life’s distress. And so throughout our lifetime Keep us within Your care And at our end then bring us To heaven to praise You there.
Confident of the joys of the life to come, we pray that God would strengthen us while we sojourn here on Earth. He will keep us in His care throughout our lives and take us to be with Him. What wonderful promises we have, promises that are sure and certain because of Christ’s death and resurrection for us and for all people. 1
Collect for this Sunday Proper 12 –Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen 2
Sources:
Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
1. https://www.graceauburn.org/kantors-hymn-studies/2020/7/31/entrust-your-days-and-burdens-lsb-754
2. Collect for Proper 12, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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