He composed it for general use (ogni tempo), in other words not for a particular date in the church calendar, although he used it for the 15th Sunday after Trinity: the first known performance was on 17 September 1730 in Leipzig.

The text was written by an unknown poet who took inspiration from various biblical books, especially from psalms, and included as a closing chorale a stanza from the hymn "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren".

Bach structured the work in five movements, with the solo voice accompanied by a Baroque instrumental ensemble of a virtuoso trumpet, strings and continuo.

[5] The closing chorale is the fifth stanza of "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren", added to Johann Gramann's hymn in Königsberg in 1549.

[9] Bach structured the cantata in five movements and scored it for a soprano soloist and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of trumpets (Tr), two violins (Vl), viola (Va), and basso continuo (Bc).

The first aria, "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" (Exult in God in every land),[1] is in da capo form, with extended coloraturas.

[4] The only recitative, "Wir beten zu dem Tempel an" (We pray at your temple),[1] is first accompanied by the strings, a second part is secco but arioso.

[2][3] The second part develops the idea of "von seinen Wundern lallen" (chatter about His wonders) in coloraturas of rhythmical complexity.

[4] The second aria, "Höchster, mache deine Güte" (Highest, renew Your goodness),[1] is accompanied only by the continuo "quasi ostinato"[2][4] which supports expressive coloraturas of the voice.

The musicologist Julian Minchem notes that Bach is able to convey with modest means a "profound expression of commitment to God".

[4] Mincham summarizes: "The long flowing melismas leave one literally breathless with the sheer pleasure in, and energy generated through, the relationship with God.

[12] The cantata was recorded by sopranos such as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (from 1948), Maria Stader (1959), Elly Ameling (1970), Edith Mathis (1972), Edita Gruberova (1979), Lucia Popp (1980), Helen Donath (1983), Elizabeth Parcells (1983), Monika Frimmer (1984), Barbara Hendricks (1989), Christine Schäfer (1999), Siri Thornhill (2007), and Natalie Dessay (2009).