Learn the Hymn: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

 Singing has always been a rich and meaningful part of Christian worship. However, it’s value and usefulness diminishes somewhat if we don’t understand the words we are singing. With that concern in mind, I’d like to occasionally teach you the words of a hymn in this column and explain what the song’s message is all about. In honor of Reformation Day on October 31, we’ll begin these studies today with Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

 

Written in German by Martin Luther sometime around 1529, the most commonly-known English translation of this hymn was produced by Frederick Hedge in 1853. This translation consists of four carefully-sequenced verses that develop one storyline from beginning to end, so when this hymn is used for public worship, it is important that all four verses be sung in order to get the full development of the thought. Let us now consider the words and their meaning.

 

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

 A “bulwark” is a wall built for defense against danger, so God is pictured as a strong defense for us against an ever-increasing flood of dangers. Luther knew more than his share of mortal ills, being a man who often dealt with stomach problems and threats from his religious and political enemies. Yet he found God faithful through it all!

 

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe—His craft and power are great, And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

 Lest we underestimate the danger posed to us by Satan, Luther in his own words reminds us that the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).” It is very unique in hymnody for a verse to end with such lofty words about Satan’s power, so we must quickly move to verse two to find words of hope!

 

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.

 By telling us that Satan’s equal cannot be found upon the Earth, Luther has reminded us that we must look away from ourselves to find strength to counter Satan’s craft and power. In this phrase, we find the announcement of a Savior—a man of God’s own choosing who has the strength to overcome Satan.

 

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.

 “Lord Sabaoth” is a reference to a Hebrew title for God in the Old Testament that is usually translated “Lord of Hosts.” The title pictures God as the commander-in-chief of the vast angelic armies of Heaven; thus, He is a terrifying figure to His enemies since He has overwhelming might at His command.

 

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.

 In our time, we have become all-too-forgetful of the influence that demonic beings can yield over our world. But Luther was under no such illusions—he was keenly aware of what we have come to call “spiritual warfare.” Nevertheless, such an awareness was not reason for despair in Luther’s mind because of the staggering truth that God has willed to display His triumph over Satan through the Church!

 

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.

 Though Satan remains active and threatening today, his defeat was accomplished at the Cross. As Colossians 2:15 says regarding Christ’s crucifixion, “God disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Christ.” Satan is therefore teetering on the brink of doom today, ready to be toppled over.

 

That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth.

 Luther now clarifies for us which “word” it is that has the power to topple Satan—it is the word of God, the Scriptures. Many “earthly powers” in Luther’s time had hidden the Scriptures by forbidding their translation into languages that common people could understand. But nevertheless, the Bible retained its power, as Luther’s own life testifies. God has also equipped the Church with His own Spirit and the gifts that the Spirit supplies us for the purpose of ministry.

 

Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still—His kingdom is forever!

 Now we come to the sobering challenge of this song—to be willing to suffer the loss of all things with hope and good cheer, because nothing can defeat the truth of God! Luther himself lost goods and kindred during his life; many of his associates lost their lives. Nevertheless, as we can attest today, God’s truth remains, and we celebrate the foretaste that it gives us of His Kingdom!