Lutheran hymns are beautiful for their clear theology grounded in Scripture, and Ringwaldt’s hymn certainly supplies an excellent picture of great terror at God’s judgment and even greater comfort found in Christ.
On this day we give thanks to God for preserving sound doctrine by His Word. The Gospel is our most valuable treasure, and we would gladly lose our lives for it because of the hope we have in Christ.
Walter set a standard of excellence in Lutheran choral composition that influenced many composers after him, and he is responsible for several of the tunes that are found in Lutheran hymnals.
The curse I choose that thou mightst lose sin’s curse and guilt forever. My gift of love from heaven above will give thee blessing ever.
This flow’r, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness ev’rywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death he saves us
And lightens ev’ry load.
O Lord, show forth all Your grace, search for the lost, bring back the one who has gone astray, assemble the scattered, restore those who have erred and been tempted, so that they, together with us, might praise You in the Christian Church and receive the common salvation.
Merry Christmas from Mount Hope Lutheran School!
“A psalm of thanksgiving for God’s particular grace that there has at all times been a place where God’s Word can be rightly preached, taught, and learned.”
Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
The sinful flesh doesn’t sing this hymn. The sinful flesh doesn’t sing any hymn. But the new man sings, “Lord, Thee I love with all my heart,” and he means it.
