Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was organist of the St Marien church in Lübeck from 1668 until his death. He wrote many works for specific secular occasions, feasts and celebrations etc. and although his positon did not require him to compose vocal music he left over 120 vocal works in a wide range of scorings, style and length. Almost all texts are sacred and scorings vary from a single voice with instrument to nine voices with several instruments and continuo.
This cantata uses the hymn by Martin Luther "Erhalt uns Herr, bei deinem Wort" as its basis with additional verses by Justus Jonas.