—Psalm 67:1-2—Sunday’s hymn is May God Bestow on us His grace (LSB 824).
This one of Luther’s greater hymns. Meditate upon what Christ has offered you –
His life, His love in exchange for your sin.
“May God Bestow on Us His Grace (Es wollt uns Gott
genädig sein)” was written by Martin Luther in 1523 as a metrical setting of Psalm
67, known at that time by the Latin first line, Deus misereatur nostri.
Luther’s hymn was intended as a closing benediction in the vernacular for his Latin
order of service, the Formula Missae, and was included as such in Paul
Speratus’s German translation of the same, Eyn weyse Christlich Mess zu halten,
Wittenberg, 1524. In later hymn collections it was included among other
metrical Psalm settings, such as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein feste Burg
ist unser Gott).”
When Johann Walter included “May God Bestow on Us His
Grace” in his 1524 polyphonic hymn collection, the Wittenberg Geystliche gesangk
Buchleyn, the tune was that which would later come to be associated with
Luther’s Catechism hymn on Holy Baptism, “Christ Our Lord to the Jordan Came
(Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam).” The first appearance of “May God Bestow on
Us His Grace” with what would become its proper tune was in the form of a broadsheet
issued 1524 in Magdeburg by Hans Knappe the Younger. There it was titled “The
66th [Psalm], Deus misereatur,” using the Psalm numbering of the Vulgate, which
had yet to be supplanted among the Reformers by the Hebrew Psalter.
The translation is by Richard Massie, Martin Luther’s
Spiritual Songs, 1851, pp. 45–46, as slightly altered in The Lutheran Hymnal,
1941, No. 500, to reflect more closely the text of Psalm 67 according to the
King James Version. The musical setting is a slightly altered version of that
found in the Mehrstimmiges Choralbuch, St. Louis, 1906, which passed with only slight
modifications into The Lutheran Hymnal. The text and music here provided are in
the public domain and may be freely used and reproduced for any purpose
whatever. They are offered with the prayer that they may serve for the
edification of Christian people everywhere.[1]
For more information, visit the Free Lutheran
Chorale-Book at: www.lutheranchoralebook.com
Tomorrow we will be using the tune by composer David
Lee.
LEE, DAVID (b. 1956): holds a Bachelor Science in Geology with Geophysics, University of Durham; and a Masters of Science in Computing Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His working life focused in I. T. Support in university and scientific research. He has been active in church music since his early teens. He is member of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and in 2007 was elected to serve on its executive committee. Hymn, song and anthem settings appear in (amongst others) Singing the Faith, RSCM (Royal School of Church Music) collections, Lutheran Service Book (LCMS), Psalms for All Seasons., In Melody and Songs.[2]
All music was at one time new. Lee's composition makes this old song come alive with an upbeat tune which makes the hymn fresh and lively. Come to church tomorrow to sing this classic Lutheran hymn, as President Kennedy would often say, "with vigor!"
A prayer before worship – O Lord, our Creator,
Redeemer, and Comforter, as we come to worship You in spirit and in truth, we
humbly pray that You may open our hearts to the preaching of Your Word, so that
we may repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ as our only Savior, and grow
in grace and holiness. Hear us for His sake.[3] -19 March, 2022
[1] https://www.lutheranchoralebook.com/wp-content/uploadsnMay-God-Bestow-on-Us-His-Grace-Booklet.pdf
[3] A Prayer before worship, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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