Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

LSB #862 "Oh, Blest the House"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Joshua 24:15b; Ephesians 6:4; Luke 2:41-52; 10:38-42

Joshua 24:15b:  "'But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.'"

Ephesians 6:4:  "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Luke 2:41-52:  "41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.  43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.  His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished.  And his mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us so?  Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.'  49 And he said to them, 'Why were you looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'  50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.  51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.  And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

"52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

Luke 10:38-42:  "38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village.  And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.  40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.  And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.'  41 But the LORD answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"

+++

The text is public domain:
1 Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall,
Where Jesus Christ is all in all!
A home that is not wholly His -
How sad and poor and dark it is!

2 Oh, blest that house where faith is found
And all in hope and love abound;
They trust their God and serve Him still
And do in all His holy will!

3 Oh, blest the parents who give heed
Unto their children's foremost need
And weary not of care or cost.
May none to them and heav'n be lost!

4 Oh, blest that house; it prospers well.
In peace and joy the parents dwell,
And in their children's lives is shown
How richly God can bless His own.

5 Then here will I and mine today
A solemn promise make a say:
Though all the world forsake His Word,
I and my house will serve the Lord!
+++

Joshua 24:15b appears in the last line of the fifth verse:  "I and my house will serve the Lord!"

Ephesians 6:4 is the basis for the third verse, and the passage from Luke 2 (particularly verse 52) seems to be the basis for the fourth verse.

The passage from Luke 10 seems to appear in the lines "Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall, / Where Jesus Christ is all in all!" in the first verse.  There's some similarity between "all in all" and "'one thing is necessary.'"