Hymn 500 - May God Bestow on Us His Grace

This week we study the hymn "May God Bestow on Us His Grace" (Hymn 500 in The Lutheran Hymnal), written by Martin Luther in the 1524.    

This hymn is a poetic version of Psalm 67 which is often called the Mission Psalm. This hymn, like Psalm 67 is a prayer to God, that God would bless His people and that they in turn would be a witness to the unbelieving world around them. This is a beautiful and very applicable prayer for us in our world still today as fewer people in our lives are Christian then ever before. We are surrounded by opportunities to be a witness to the Savior of all people to the people around us.  

This hymn highlights several important truths. First, all of our blessings, both physical and spiritual come from God. He is the giver of all things, and those blessings are to be used for our good, but also for the good of those around us and to God's glory. Second, God's Means of Grace -- the Gospel in Word and Sacrament - are the means by which He gives us His spiritual blessings, which include bringing us to faith, keeping us in the faith, forgives us our sins, and brings us to heaven. When we separate ourselves from His Means of Grace we separate ourselves from God and from His blessings, to our spiritual harm.

This hymn is a prayer that God would bless us through His Word and Sacrament and through them equip us to be faithful witness of Jesus and His blessings to the world around us that "the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (Psalm 67:7). As Luther says: "Let all the world praise Him alone; Let solemn awe possess us." May the LORD create such solemn awe in each of us through the hearing of His Holy Word!

Join us as we study this hymn which is a fitting and beneficial prayer for us to pray still today!