HymnSite.com's Suggested Hymns for the 21st Sunday After Pentecost
Text: Georg Neumark
trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten
Georg Neumark (1621-1681), who lived a rather unremarkable -- and often miserable
-- life, is known primarily for this hymn, which was written in the midst
of a very bitter experience of victimization, destitution and unemployment.
Robbed and left with only his prayerbook and a few coins while enroute to
the University at Konigsberg, he spent nearly 2 years trying to find work
in 4 different cities so that he could save enough money to finish his education.
It was upon the occasion of finally being given a tutoring job in the home
of a wealthy judge, that he wrote this text and tune. It is based on Psalm
55:22 and originally entitled, "A Song of Comfort: God will care for and
help everyone in His own time."
He eventually returned to the University and studied law, but he aimlessly
wandered about for 3 years after graduation. He finally found a clerical
position, in which he remained until his death. The last months of his life
were spent in blindness. Most of his 34 hymns were written during times of
great trial and suffering.
Catherine Winkworth is credited with translating this hymn from German (see
the August 24, 1997, featured Hymn for
more information about her contribution to English hymnody).
Neumark also wrote the hymn's tune. It is better known than its composer.
Bach is said to have loved this chorale-like tune, using it in a number of
ways in his works: as the basis for a cantata by the same name; as the closing
chorale in 4 other cantatas; and as the theme of one of his organ compositions.
Mendelssohn also used it as a chorale in the oratorio St. Paul. Lutherans
especially loved this tune, and used it for more than 400 hymns.
The first inclusion in a Methodist hymnal was in 1905, using only 4 stanzas
of the original seven. The 1964 Methodist Hymnal restored the tune from 4/4
time to its original 3/4 time.
If your congregation has never sung this hymn, perhaps your musicians would
be willing to use one of the classical compositions based on the tune as
part of their offerings of music for the day. Certainly the story behind
the hymn's text and tune is worthy of telling as an illustration to illumine
the lections of the day.
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Lection at HymnSite.com
Contributed by Rev. Linda K. Morgan-Clark
Additional Suggestions for Old Testament
Lections
Job: See also Hymns 102-125 (God's Nature)
Amos: See Index listing, "Social Concerns" p.952; "Justice p. 947;
see also Hymns 425-450 (Social Holiness)
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Additional Suggestions for Psalm Readings
Psalm 22: See Index listing, "Afliction and Tribulation" p.934; see
also Hymns 509-536 (Strength in Tribulation)
Psalm 90: See Index listing, "Afliction and Tribulation" p.934; see
also Hymns 102-125 (God's Nature); Hymns 509-536 (Strength in Tribulation)
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Additional Suggestions for Gospel Lesson
See Index listing, "Commitment" p.939; see also Hymns 395-424 (Personal Holiness)
return to Lection
Additional Suggestions for Epistle Lesson
See Index listing, "Jesus Christ: Incarnation " p.945, "Atonement" p. 944;
see also Hymns 153-194 (In Praise of Christ)
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| Scriptures suggested at this site for
use throughout the year are taken directly from The Revised Common Lectionary.
Copyright (c) 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P. O. Box 840,
Room 381, Nashville, TN 37202-0840, USA. Used with Permission. |
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