Martin Luther, the 16th-century monk,
reformer, and theologian wrote “Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold” (German,
“Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein”). He was born November 10, 1483 at Eisleben,
Saxony, Germany. It is said that his religious service stemmed from his
fearing for his life in a terrible thunderstorm. He cried out “Save me, St.
Anne, and I’ll become a monk!” His life was spared and he fulfilled this vow.[i]
Luther’s father saw to it that Martin received a good education. Later, after
he had become a monk, he studied at the University of Wittenberg. He received a
doctorate and became a professor of theology there.
Luther experienced disillusionment with the Roman Catholic Church. He came to understand it as a religion based on fear, and further that immorality and corruption filled the priesthood. He questioned the basic tenets of Roman Catholicism, and began to rest in the Scripture promise “The just shall live by faith.” Pope Leo X’s indulgences (sold to absolve one’s sins) were another source of irritation. On October 31, 1517, Luther incited the Protestant Reformation when he nailed a paper with his “95 Theses” on the door of the University of Wittenberg’s chapel.
In 1521, Luther was declared a heretic and his writings banned. During this period as a fugitive, he translated the New Testament into the German language and organized a church dissenting from or protesting Rome. He married Katharina von Bora, a former nun, in 1525. Luther suffered a stroke and died February 18, 1546. He is buried at Castle Church (Schlosskirche Wittenberg) (aka All Saints’ Church) in Wittenberg.
Luther influenced German hymnody greatly. He wrote a number of hymns and compiled several hymn books. “A Mighty Fortress is our God” and “Away in a Manger” are exceptionally well-known. Frances Elizabeth Cox translated the hymns “Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein” into English. She was born May 10, 1812, at Oxford, England, the daughter of George Valentine Cox. This hymn appeared in her 1841 publication of Sacred Hymns from the German (London: William Pickering, 1841).[ii] This work contained nearly 50 English translations, as well as the original words in German. Cox died September 23, 1897, at Headington, England. Her burial location is currently unknown to this author.
Related to the preservation of the Bible (a topic oft raised here at “Seeking the Old Paths”) Peter Van Kleeck, Sr. points out that Luther’s hymn elegantly reflects his interpretation of Psalm 12. Doubtless, he aimed at the Roman Catholic clergy as those who had “taken away the key of knowledge” and “lead thy people to and fro, in error’s maze astounded.”
Hymn For the Reformation.
Ye have taken away the key of knowledge. St. Luke xi. 52.
1. Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold,
And let thy pity waken!
How few the flock within thy fold,
Neglected and forsaken!
Almost thou’lt seek for faith in vain,
And those who should thy truth maintain
Thy word from us have taken.
2. With frauds which they themselves invent
Thy truth they have confounded;
Their hearts are not with one consent
On thy pure doctrine grounded;
And, whilst they gleam with outward show,
They lead thy people to and fro,
In error’s maze astounded.
3. God surely will uproot all those
With vain deceits who store us;
With haughty tongue who God oppose,
And say, “Who stands before us?
By right or might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail,
For who can lord it o’er us?”
4. For this, saith God, I will arise,
These wolves my flock are rending;
I’ve heard my people’s bitter sighs
To heaven, my throne, ascending:
Now will I up, and set at rest
Each weary soul by fraud opprest,
The poor with might defending.
5. The silver seven times tried is pure
From all adulteration;
So, through God’s word, shall men endure
Each trial and temptation:
Its worth gleams brighter through the cross,
And, purified from human dross,
It shines through every nation.
6. Thy truth thou wilt preserve, O Lord,
Pure from their artful glozing;
Oh! make us lean upon thy word,
With hearts unmoved reposing.
Though bad men triumph and their crew
Are gathered round, the faithful few
With crafty toils enclosing.
The above seems to be the original sixth stanza, while the following may be more commonly used in hymnals:
Luther experienced disillusionment with the Roman Catholic Church. He came to understand it as a religion based on fear, and further that immorality and corruption filled the priesthood. He questioned the basic tenets of Roman Catholicism, and began to rest in the Scripture promise “The just shall live by faith.” Pope Leo X’s indulgences (sold to absolve one’s sins) were another source of irritation. On October 31, 1517, Luther incited the Protestant Reformation when he nailed a paper with his “95 Theses” on the door of the University of Wittenberg’s chapel.
In 1521, Luther was declared a heretic and his writings banned. During this period as a fugitive, he translated the New Testament into the German language and organized a church dissenting from or protesting Rome. He married Katharina von Bora, a former nun, in 1525. Luther suffered a stroke and died February 18, 1546. He is buried at Castle Church (Schlosskirche Wittenberg) (aka All Saints’ Church) in Wittenberg.
Luther influenced German hymnody greatly. He wrote a number of hymns and compiled several hymn books. “A Mighty Fortress is our God” and “Away in a Manger” are exceptionally well-known. Frances Elizabeth Cox translated the hymns “Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein” into English. She was born May 10, 1812, at Oxford, England, the daughter of George Valentine Cox. This hymn appeared in her 1841 publication of Sacred Hymns from the German (London: William Pickering, 1841).[ii] This work contained nearly 50 English translations, as well as the original words in German. Cox died September 23, 1897, at Headington, England. Her burial location is currently unknown to this author.
Related to the preservation of the Bible (a topic oft raised here at “Seeking the Old Paths”) Peter Van Kleeck, Sr. points out that Luther’s hymn elegantly reflects his interpretation of Psalm 12. Doubtless, he aimed at the Roman Catholic clergy as those who had “taken away the key of knowledge” and “lead thy people to and fro, in error’s maze astounded.”
Hymn For the Reformation.
Ye have taken away the key of knowledge. St. Luke xi. 52.
1. Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold,
And let thy pity waken!
How few the flock within thy fold,
Neglected and forsaken!
Almost thou’lt seek for faith in vain,
And those who should thy truth maintain
Thy word from us have taken.
2. With frauds which they themselves invent
Thy truth they have confounded;
Their hearts are not with one consent
On thy pure doctrine grounded;
And, whilst they gleam with outward show,
They lead thy people to and fro,
In error’s maze astounded.
3. God surely will uproot all those
With vain deceits who store us;
With haughty tongue who God oppose,
And say, “Who stands before us?
By right or might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail,
For who can lord it o’er us?”
4. For this, saith God, I will arise,
These wolves my flock are rending;
I’ve heard my people’s bitter sighs
To heaven, my throne, ascending:
Now will I up, and set at rest
Each weary soul by fraud opprest,
The poor with might defending.
5. The silver seven times tried is pure
From all adulteration;
So, through God’s word, shall men endure
Each trial and temptation:
Its worth gleams brighter through the cross,
And, purified from human dross,
It shines through every nation.
6. Thy truth thou wilt preserve, O Lord,
Pure from their artful glozing;
Oh! make us lean upon thy word,
With hearts unmoved reposing.
Though bad men triumph and their crew
Are gathered round, the faithful few
With crafty toils enclosing.
The above seems to be the original sixth stanza, while the following may be more commonly used in hymnals:
6. Thy truth thou wilt preserve, O Lord,
From this vile generation;
Oh! make us lean upon thy word,
With calm anticipation.
The wicked walk on every side
When, ’mid thy flock, the vile abide
In power and exaltation.
[i] St. Anne was the patron saint of miners. Martin Luther’s father was a miner.
[ii] This was apparently republished in 1864 as a second edition called Hymns from the German.
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