Woke this morning from a dream where I was in a worship service and was asked by the Pastor and music minister to sing. The service bulletin listed the classic hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God“. All of a sudden, the congregation and I were singing it all together.
Awake and knowing I had just been given an assignment to share this wonderful old hymn with you, I looked it up and, wow, what a timely message for us today. As our world seems to be pivoting away from freedom to far more oppression and persecution, we could use these words from those brothers and sisters in the past who understood terrible difficulty.
Inspired by Psalm 46 (text below), A Mighty Fortress was penned by Martin Luther in 1529 (lyrics below) in a time of division and upheaval for the church. It was translated into English by Frederick Hedge in 1853.
What I did not know, or had long forgotten, it became the anthem of the Protestant Reformation! Facing terrible persecution and chaos, the people of God often sang these words for strength and hope! Powerful words they are, indeed. Take a look:
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word, above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
Now, the Psalmist’s words that inspired A Mighty Fortress:
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be shaken;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Isn’t it amazing how two songs, one from five centuries ago (A Mighty Fortress) and another from three millennia ago (Psalm 46) can have such power today? I pray you are both encouraged and strengthened by these poignant words of God for all time!
[While I had never heard of this University, I loved this beautiful rendition of A Mighty Fortress. Enjoy!]
Peace.
–oneseekingtruth
FAITH AND FASTING 