The Rankin File

Tobias Clausnitzer was a German Lutheran pastor who was chosen to preach the Thanksgiving sermon to the soldiers in the field after the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1848. Early in the following year he became the pastor at Weiden where he remained until he died thirty-five years later. His “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word,” is our Tuesday Hymn of the Week.

This hymn, translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1858, has much to say about the worship of the Triune God by His people. It begins with the Word of God (Blessed Jesus, at your word) and ends with the Word of God (Grant that we your Word may trust); reminding us that all true worship should be guided by His written Word.

Thus, our worship should be centered on what God wants (and where better to find what God wants then in His written Word), and not about the perceived needs of the worshipper. In this hymn we see the worship of the one true God, but we see that worship being expressed to each of the members of the Trinity. It flows from words of praise to the Son, to the Father, to the Spirit, back to the Son, back to the Spirit, and finally ending with a crescendo to the Triune God: “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Praise to you and adoration!”

It is sung to the tune, Liebster Jesu.

Blessed Jesus, at your word
We are gathered all to hear you;
Let our hearts and souls be stirred
Now to seek and love and fear you,
By your teachings, sweet and holy,
Drawn from earth to love you solely.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Praise to you and adoration!
Grant that we your Word may trust
And obtain true consolation
While we here below must wander,
Till we sing your praises yonder.